Mom who is in her mid 90's fell and broke her hip. She is in a rehabilitation center after the surgery, but isn't eating, or really participating in her recovery process, yet she insists she wants to go home. She isn't able to walk independently nor use the toilet without 2 assistants. The nursing home is not telling the truth on her daily sheet what she is eating as family has been there during meals and when they have been shown the reports they do not coincide. I would like to see if she can be transferred to another nursing home rehabilitation center via Medicare even if we have to self pay for the transport. I am sure co-ordination of benefits for the two homes would need to be worked out as long as making sure that the place I would like to move her to is accepting new patrons. I know there are a few people who have made comments, but what I am interested in knowing is were the parent(s) able to be transferred or did an attorney have to make the move happen?
First time: my mother had a therapist who didn't know how to work with older people, and was pushing her in therapy beyond her capability, criticizing her b/c she was afraid to stand on her broken leg. My father, sister and I asked for a meeting with relevant staff.
First we discussed it with her orthopedist, who affirmed that she was totally non weight bearing at that point. Second, we met with the staff. My sister, a nurse, had her medical notes and I had my legal and general notes. With Dad, we presented our case that the therapist, who insisted that Mom stand, was inappropriate and hampering Mom's recovery.
NOTE: if you meet with staff and can bring family or friend support, station yourself at opposite points at the meeting table. Staff will do that so you can be observed from multiple angles. Kind of makes you feel surrounded, and outnumbered. My sister alerted me to that strategy (she was a psych nurse), so we did the same thing.
The therapist was transferred to another facility within the chain, and Mom was rewarded with a very congenial, understanding and supportive young therapist. Life changed for the better, for all of us.
Other than the orthopedist's involvement, no outside support was necessary.
Second time was when I chose what I thought was an outstanding rehab facility. I had 3 pages of questions and notes, toured the facility and was impressed. A son of one of the residents confirmed that it was a good facility.
First day, we realized how wrong I was. Dad's medical records got lost, the food was disgusting, and not even edible. (I tasted the brownie; it was at least several days old. The fish looked like plaster). There was inadequate support and after dinner bathroom breaks were like trying to manage after a natural disaster.
That evening, Dad said: "GET ME OUT OF HERE!" I contacted his orthopedist, got a letter from them confirming he still needed care at a satisfactory facility (for Medicare purposes in case payment was denied, which it wasn't), toured facilities the next day, found a very good facility, advised the staff and Dad was moved either the next or following day.
When his PT/INR was checked, he was close to being highly anticoagulated as a result of the first facility having lost his records and not administering Coumadin.
So, get a letter from her doctor and interview and find a good facility, then just advise the current one you're making a transfer. You don't need to provide reasons; just avoid all that and say that you've found another facility that's more suitable.
Good luck. Post back if you have any problems or other concerns.
I found the facility and called them and asked what I needed to do to move my dad. They walked me through everything.
I had to stand over the jerk facility to get them to send the paperwork, that was the hardest part. I was told multiple times it had been sent yet never received, when I literally stood over her shoulder it was miraculously received. Be prepared to have to be tough with the discharge facility. I actually got so pizzed that I thought they would call the police. I didn't care, they weren't taking care of my dad.
The receiving facility arraigned and paid for transport.
Good luck, some of these facilities are reprehensible.
But the long answer is, I think that if she is not participating at the current facility, she most likely will not participate at a new place. A broken hip in your 90s is often the beginning of a downward trend in health for our poor parents, no matter what facility she is in. There are much more important things to worry about than whether she ate 40% or 60% of a meal.
Don't forget, Mom had major surgery so her brain is still in that fog. For the number of hours that your Mom was in surgery, for every hour it equal one month of brain-fog. That even happens to young people.
Even if you move Mom to another rehab center, the same thing will happen.
At such an advanced age, doing rehab will be extremely exhausting for your Mom, and with pain she may not want to do the routines. So, don't be surprised if Mom now becomes very limited with what she can now do.
It was asked should I move her to alternative facility or what? Of course, I knew he would not be able to give a direct answer, but he said if I chose to do it, it may help if she doesn't see it as a nursing home.
I myself would not over-worry the eating thing. Weights are taken regularily. THAT is what doctors look at, not at the percentages recorded on the chart. They honestly do not have time to do that at all.
Wishing your Mom well.