Has hard time getting out of bed. She is on blood thinners and easily rips her skin. She wants to stay here, so am also looking for caregivers when wife and I are gone . Would like to grant her wishes, but, it’s getting hard for us. I appreciate any advice. We had her doctor send a notice to Medicare, but really don’t want to wait that long. I can purchase, but, looking for used. We live near Champaign, IL.
OMG, it is not that simple! She will need one thing after another, not just a hospital bed. She may not tolerate the caregivers, and it's hard to manage their shifts, their personalities, their cooperation with each other, and their presence in your home. You'll need at least three CG for 24/7 coverage plus relief caregiving. Unless they come from an agency, you'll need to manage their withholding, make sure you are insured against claims they might file against you, who shops, who cooks, who drives, and on and on.
Hospice seems like your best path, but they're not going to provide home health for when you are gone. I really feel as if mom should be in a care facility where she'll have friends, entertainment, food, laundry service, and a team of caring aides to look after her. Mother doesn't necessarily know best.
Her physician will have to do the consult for hospice. Hospice as it’s Medicare is “self directed” so in theory she or you as POA can select the agency. A bigger city will be a competitive marketplace with many agencies; smaller town not so much. VITAS and Compassus are the big players for hospice nationwide & a huge advantage of going with a bigger group is they relationships with DME providers so can have the DME at the ready to be delivered as they have so so many clients and have lots of employees so can pivot to provide for more care f that needs to happen, A smaller agency may have to order DME or doesn’t have several RN on staff to easily add on time.
If the hospice group seems to be problematic, as it is Medicare, yiu as your moms POA can find another and switch hospice providers.
Contact your local Senior Center and see if they have any used hospital beds.
Many communities have "Lending closets" that loan medical equipment.
The BIG problem with a hospital bed is most places will not accept a mattress so you will have to probably purchase a mattress for the bed if you find one.
Have you had your mom evaluated for Hospice? If she would qualify Hospice will provide a Hospital bed
She can probably qualify for LTC in a good facility. This would be covered by Medicaid (the medical financial aid) and her SS income (covers the custodial portion ie. room and board).
Just a thought to tuck away just in case it comes to that point of being overwhelmed.