My mom fell, was hospitalized, and is going to rehab. It might be weeks before discharge. It took years to find an “independent” caregiver. Previously, she took care of our doctor’s grandmother. She comes highly recommended, is trustworthy, but also very $$$$. I’m afraid to be left with no one when mom is discharged to home, but she of course wants to be paid to stay on. What to do??? Has anyone else been in this situation?
I did this with my DH aunt who is now in a NH but I didn’t want to lose her aides and I didn’t know at the onset what would happen. She actually still has one of her private aides who works for the hospice company we use. It has been a win-win for my family.
To me, your mom will be much better cared for if you add the aide now and you will have great support. I assume your mom has good insurance and mom won’t be out more money than she would have been if the hospitalization hadn’t happened.
Also, a good private aide can be difficult to find. She needs her income just as you or I would.
It is a unique opportunity to have an aide plugged in from day one and can set the stage for an ongoing good relationship.
If your mother can afford it, you might consider having her stay with your mother through hospital and rehab. Most places are understaffed and she can keep her eye on any less than acceptable care. It made me feel less anxious about him being in a clearly understaffed facility.
I am 88 and fell and broke my hip. It was replaced during Covid. The month in rehab was so bad that I wrote a review in Yelp of the nursing care. The post was read by the marketing people, and several were terminated. If I had been able to have my caregiver, I would not have received such treatment that I had no way to stop until I remembered Yelp on the internet. Mom will appreciate the extra attention to her care.
although your loved one is in rehab, she will need support there. Even great rehab locations are short on help. You need constant eyes on your mom to ensure she gets proper care. If no one shows up to check you can’t assume care is doing everything needed. When my dad was in rehab someone went every day. Once he got meds meant for someone else. Or another patient kept going in his room looking for his wife. Things happen and you will need help.
I agree that keeping the help on is a luxury but it will help you sleep better at night.
best wishes
:)
by the way:
"Once he got meds meant for someone else."
awful!! scary, they make such mistakes!!
Hard to find good help, so if there's a way to keep her - do it. You might even offer her a lower flat rate per week that lets her off the hook for working, but ensures she comes back when mom released....and get a contract signed to whatever is agreed to.
Are you able to afford it?
If the answer to both these questions is yes, then I would HAPPILY pay to keep her. I would tell her to consider herself on paid vacation while Mom is in rehab. If Mom comes out of rehab in the meantime your well rested and very happy and willing caregiver will be waiting.
Not everyone can afford to do this. If you CAN, I think it a wonderful expenditure to make "good" happen.