My husband is refusing PT and OT, so he may be kicked out of his NH. He is there for rehab, due to a fall and broken humerus, but has a UTI.

Can't tell you how much I appreciate the encouraging words. I have decided to sleep on this, and I expect I'll be pursuing some of your suggestions first thing in the morning. Thank you so much.

Edith, I'm so sorry you are going through this with DH, especially NOW. What a stressful situation to be subjected to. My mother keeps telling me daily how she wants to die, too, and I feel for you. When they say things like that, it makes us feel so helpless! While I DO understand they're tired and perhaps ready to end this leg of their journey, what they DON'T understand is how saying such a thing makes US feel, you know? Like we're supposed to fix it, but we can't.

My dad was catheterized after breaking his hip. It took literally 6 months to be able to remove that catheter because he was unable to fully empty his bladder as well. In his case, it was due to age (91) more than anything else. Once a man gets catheterized, it can take an act of God to get rid of it, seems to me.

If he's refusing PT & OT, then yes, Medicare will stop paying for rehab. Are you able/willing to take him back home? If not, can the SNF keep him there in the long term care section? Can you get a hospice evaluation for him since he's clearly giving up now?

Sending you a big hug and some prayers for the best possible outcome here, whatever that may be. Stay strong and take care of YOURSELF now, too, okay?

Thanks. Turns out I was given the wrong info. The UTI is, they say, gone. The catheter remains because he can't empty his bladder, possibly as a result of diabetes. Meanwhile, DH has given up -- refuses therapy, refused food yesterday and today, refused pain meds, etc. Says he wants to die. Phone conversations are not too helpful because he is hard of hearing -- and clearly depressed. (Has refused antidepressants, too.) Sorry for posting inaccurately -- NH doesn't communicate well --

You might want to schedule an appointment with an outside infectious doctor to assess his CA-UTI. He might have developed a colony of MRSA, which will need further analysis.