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He has not been clinically diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s. In the first care team meeting they told me that he has to be queued in order for him to safely walk with a walker. They indicated he needs 24x7 care which I am not physically able to provide, nor do we have the financial means to have an in home caregiver. It is heartbreaking to see him so miserable and he begs to come home. I have run out of things to tell him and I fear the next step when Medicare Advantage runs out is LTC with Medicaid. I’m at a crossroads. Do I bring him home and try to make it work or move him to LTC when the time comes? I don’t want him to feel abandoned.

You state you are not physically able to provide his care , nor does he have the financial means for homecare.

You have no choice but to go the Medicaid route for LTC. You should advise the rehab facility of this and start the Medicaid process and looking for LTC asap .

You did not make your spouse ill , you can’t fix old or dementia . Do not take him home . Without a dementia diagnosis it could be difficult to get him to leave the house again for placement . There are many threads here , people in that very situation . They regretted taking a parent or spouse home and are now finding it difficult to get them placed .

Tell your spouse the doctor says he can’t go home yet when he begs to go home .
I’m sorry . This is so difficult for both of you .
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Reply to waytomisery
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No, I recommend you do NOT bring him home.
I am so sorry for this dreadful situation.
I am concerned there is no diagnosis, because with this severe balance problem SOMEthing is going on. I think you should speak now with the rehab doc. Ask for a diagnosis. Tell him you need to know what you are facing. Is this Lewy's? Parkinson's? You need to know a diagnosis.

THEN realize that his being in rehab means this is the BEST place to get him transfered to LTC. If you try to do this from home, on your own, it's a crucible. You are going also to need to see an elder law attorney about division of assets for his care, so that his portion of your assets is used to pay for LTC placement while yours is preserved for you, yourself.

I think most of all, Bamagirl, what you need here is honesty. Have the rehab social worker meet with you and hubby. Tell her/him you need support in leveling with your hubby to tell him you cannot be in home caregiver and it is not possible to afford in home caregiving. Tell him you are sorry. That you MOURN this along with him. That you both can wail and can cry, but that doesn't remove the truth and necessity of finding the best place you can. That you'll visit and be there for support, but much as you love him that's the best you can do.

Don't expect happiness. You can't pay enough money to buy it and it isn't for sale. There is little in the end of our lives to BE happy about--at 82 that's clear to me. We all have to just do the best we can. And I am so very sorry. For you both.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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ElizabethAR37 Aug 24, 2024
Yes. I realize that not everyone likes this phrase, but IMO this is definitely an "it is what it is" scenario! It's an unenviable situation that just "is" and no amount of wishful thinking is going to change it. The most we can do is cope as best we can (speaking as an even older woman of 87).
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Bringing him home would literally be the worst decision you could possibly make for either of you.
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Reply to ZippyZee
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My MIL is in LTC on Medicaid. She is in a very well-run and physically beautiful facility (located on a large lake with gardens). This facility has been here since the 50s and very reputable and the staff is awesome. It is run by Presbyterian Homes, a faith-based non-profit organization. Another non-profit org is Ebenezer Homes.

I'm saying that you are horrible-izing what you think LTC and Medicaid is about. There are great places out there, so start researching. Get him in on private pay this way he gets first dibs at the Medicaid beds when the time comes. My MIL's place has activities and events every day. You can be with your husband every day. If fact, you may want to consider transitioning yourself into IL care in the same facility because eventually YOU will need more care and who is going to do that for you? If no one, then you need to get ahead of any needs or crisis.

You should also have a PoA assigned (and if it is currently your husband then this MUST be changed). Please see an elder law attorney -- it will totally be worth the cost (although sometimes the initial consult is for free).
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PeggySue2020 Aug 24, 2024
Geaton, I have never heard of an ltc Medicaid facility sponsoring PONTOON BOAT FISHING TRIPS as you’ve said yours does. The taxpayer, not the church, pays for this plus the liability for what is frankly a luxury expense.

There should be no luxury expenses like this for Medicaid ltc.
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I’ve never met anyone who really wants to put a loved one in a nursing home. There are times in life it becomes the necessary next step. You’re already sure you cannot provide the level of care your husband needs in a home setting so please don’t risk your health attempting it. Your husband needs you healthy and rested to be his advocate and encourager. Tell him honestly what’s going to happen. Rely on the staff of the rehab to also discuss this with him to reinforce what you say. Then no more discussion as it will only frustrate you both. When you show up regularly in his new setting, take steps to decorate it with things from home, and prove you’re still his biggest cheerleader, he will hopefully see he’s not abandoned. I wish you both peace in this big life change
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Reply to Daughterof1930
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Ignore folks who tell you to do things you're incapable of doing, Bamagirl. Get hubby placed in the Skilled Nursing facility and visit him frequently so he won't feel abandoned. Old age doesn't always work out like it does in the movies, and disease sets in and forces managed care on us. We do the best we can and leave the rest in God's hands.

Best of luck to you.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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cover9339 Aug 24, 2024
If this is the route the OP goes, and if she must, hopefully hubby goes to a decent one.
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Bamagirl,

Your husband's reaction to rehab seems as if he can't use reasoning to accept that he needs help. This sounds very much like some form of dementia. Please try and get your husband diagnosed as soon as possible.

If your husband requires such profound care (whatever the reason), you need to accept that it is beyond what you can provide. Mourn the past, but move forwards by not demonising the new situation and trying to make the best of it.
Look at all the positives of having your husband cared for in a suitable facility (sorry, I don't know what LTC stands for, although I assume the C is for care). Do everything possible to make it work and to make your husband feel that this new stage is being undertaken by you, together, that you are going to keep being his wife and his biggest supporter. Someone said "cheerleader" which really places emphasis on the team spirit of your partnership.
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Reply to MiaMoor
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cover9339 Aug 24, 2024
LTC=Long Term Care
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He won't feel abandoned with all the medical team members, nurses and aides around. They may just drive him crazy.

If you take him home (which you say yourself you can't manage) and wear yourself out, what happens next? He goes into a LTC facility.

Of course he'd rather be home. His medical condition prevents it.
You did not cause his problems, you cannot fix them.
It becomes about what he needs, not what he wants.
Sorry you have to face this.
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Reply to Dawn88
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I faced this with my dad a few months ago, though he did have a dementia diagnosis and was in home hospice. He was extremely weak, but could not understand that he could no longer stand and walk. He also either could not remember or refused to use the walker. So of course he started falling a lot. He was mostly incontinent, couldn’t clean himself properly. My mom definitely could not care for him. After the last fall involving a blow to the head and considerable blood, I called the ambulance and he went to the hospital for a concussion scan. I made the decision in the hospital and I had to be the one to tell him from there he could not go home but would be going to a facility. My mom just could not face any of it and did not go to the hospital. It was hard, but necessary.

The next day we went to visit him. He was very angry and complaining and demanding to be released. I said “remember how you kept falling and hurting yourself?” He nodded and asked why. I replied he was too weak to stand due to not eating much for months. He asked if he got strong again could he go home. I knew it could never happen. It also felt heart breaking.

It is very sad and very painful. And I really feel for you. But why try to do what you know you cannot do? It would only drag things out and make it worse for both of you. Trust me, you do not want to see him half naked, covered in s**t and in a pool of blood on the ground on your kitchen floor, unable to get up, or crawling on his hands and knees smearing s**t on the walls as he tries to make it from the bathroom back to bed. Knowing what I know now, I honestly wish I had insisted my dad go into a facility earlier than he did, to spare the three of us all that horror. It was my mom who kept saying she wanted to keep him at home, yet she couldn’t help him off the floor, couldn’t bathe him or change him.

I hope he adjusts and you adjust. I did see plenty of people in his facility who looked happy and peaceful. They were ALL well cared for by professionals around the clock who have way more means at their disposal than any home setting. They are used to all of it and trained how to deal with it. They are generally quite compassionate as well.
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Reply to Suzy23
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"They indicated he needs 24x7 care which I am not physically able to provide, nor do we have the financial means to have an in home caregiver."

Can I wind back to why your DH is in rehab?

Frequent falls + mild cog decline but no fomal diagnosis if dementia/Alz right?

Is the issue he needs *assistance* NEW? (By assistance, any of; verbal prompts, cues, supervision or hands-on help).

Are there NEW factors?
Pain?
New medications?
Recent illness?
Recent surgery?

Has there been any mention of delerium? (Quite under dx IMHO)

Is his condition expected to IMPROVE in the SHORT TERM?

If so, home with paid caregivers for extra support in the Short Term *may* be an option?

Or, is this expected to be his New Normal?

Has there been slow or steady decline? Illness that is progressive? eg Cancer, Parkinson's, Heart Disease. A permanent change brought by stroke or accquired brain injury?

Sorry for so many questions!

Sometimes people take their loved ones home, hoping that wrapping them with love will be enough..
They HOPE to COPE..

Some have to TRY this - as Plan A.

There is no shame in moving to Plan B or Plan C.
A wise person knows their limits.
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