I just received a call from Social Services at the Legacy Nursing Home. It seems Dr. Eskander has agreed to release mom afterall but wants me to wait till Wednesday night. He wants time to ween her off the intravenous feeding, time to set up some in-home services and so on.
Since they seemed so cooperative, I agreed and said I would go there tomorrow morning to give consent in person. This way at least mom can be home Wednesday night...Thank God.
I do appreciate the prayers and well wishes of everyone here.
One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
-
MacTheWolf (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:22 pm
-
Posting Rank
-
Daughter (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 330
- Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:08 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Be careful when doing anything AMA. Most insurance companies will refuse to pay for any portion of the services rendered if you leave AMA. Regardless, it seems the threat of doing so managed to kick the doc into Nice mode, so no loss there. 
-
captainnemo (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 2:55 am
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Mac, Daughter is right on this one. Also, you should be able to make yourself the designated caregiver through home services. Find out from your county social services office. If so, you can actually be paid for taking care of her. Also, if she is kept at the nursing home, Medi-Cal will pay retroactively. I'm sure that is why the Doc wants to keep her. Also, If she gets the feeding tube, it is referred to as a G-tube for Gastric Tube, since it passes through her abdominal wall directly into her stomach, she will have to be transferred to an acute care hospital, recover, and then be transferred back to the "skilled nursing care facility", at which time, the clock for insurance payment for skilled nursing care is reset. So, don't reject the feeding tube out of hand. Also, Medicare/Medi-Cal usually pays for the feeding formulae.
-
MacTheWolf (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:22 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Mom comes home this Wednesday afternoon "with" her physician's approval. I rejected the stomach tube for several reasons: (1) Her doctor at the Catholic Hospital advised against it (2) Her court-appointed attorney advised against it (3) and I didn't want a 93 year old, frail woman to have that much intrusive surgery. Besides, her intake by mouth has increased greatly.
Now I only wish I could understand what she is saying. Now and then in the past she'd have episodes where her words
Since she has been in this depressing looking nursing home, she seems to have this lack of ability to communicate clearly almost everyday. I'm hoping it declines after she's been home for a while.
On a different topic, after I ran my errands downtown, I did something I'm not used to.....work. I vacumned three rooms, did all my dishes and raked the leaves out of half of my front yard. I stopped at half only because that much filled up the "green" can. Here in my town, we get three trash cans from the city. A black one for kitchen garbage or catbox dumping, a blue one for recyclybles such as paper, glass, cardboard, etc and a green one for grass leaves, leaves, small tree branches. As my sprinkler system only partially works, I hand watered the yard.
It may not sound like much for a day's work, but it's more than I'm used to and I feel satisified with myself.
Mom's attorney called and reminded me of our Conservatorship court date on November 19. She said I would likely be appointed to act for mom in all medical matters but not for financial matters. To act for her financially, I would have to raise $1,500, the fee for a $300,000 bond. No way do I have access to even ten percent of that much money.
The alternative, according to mom's attorney, is for me to locate and appoint a fiduciary (sp) who would act for mom to pay her bills. The court is sending me as a list of these fiduciaries for me to call and chose from.
I knew it. I should have been a lawyer, a car salesman or a mechanic.
Now I only wish I could understand what she is saying. Now and then in the past she'd have episodes where her words
they made sense to her. Her family doctor said it was common among stroke victims and not to worry about it. I forgot the term for it.
Since she has been in this depressing looking nursing home, she seems to have this lack of ability to communicate clearly almost everyday. I'm hoping it declines after she's been home for a while.
On a different topic, after I ran my errands downtown, I did something I'm not used to.....work. I vacumned three rooms, did all my dishes and raked the leaves out of half of my front yard. I stopped at half only because that much filled up the "green" can. Here in my town, we get three trash cans from the city. A black one for kitchen garbage or catbox dumping, a blue one for recyclybles such as paper, glass, cardboard, etc and a green one for grass leaves, leaves, small tree branches. As my sprinkler system only partially works, I hand watered the yard.
It may not sound like much for a day's work, but it's more than I'm used to and I feel satisified with myself.
Mom's attorney called and reminded me of our Conservatorship court date on November 19. She said I would likely be appointed to act for mom in all medical matters but not for financial matters. To act for her financially, I would have to raise $1,500, the fee for a $300,000 bond. No way do I have access to even ten percent of that much money.
The alternative, according to mom's attorney, is for me to locate and appoint a fiduciary (sp) who would act for mom to pay her bills. The court is sending me as a list of these fiduciaries for me to call and chose from.
I knew it. I should have been a lawyer, a car salesman or a mechanic.
-
Blaise (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2141
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:45 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
It is good to hear some other competent people oppose the stomach tube. That ought to make you feel good about your judgment. I think you make good choices for your mother.
-
MacTheWolf (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:22 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Mom comes home tomorrow at 1:00pm. WOO HOO
That should end a great deal of my depression. You have to realize that during the last few weeks, I had a panic attack everytime the phone rang. Each time I answered it I was afraid it was going to be a nurse saying, "your mother passed away tonight." I lived in daily fear of that call.
Now, after tommorrow, I can answer the phone without fear
That should end a great deal of my depression. You have to realize that during the last few weeks, I had a panic attack everytime the phone rang. Each time I answered it I was afraid it was going to be a nurse saying, "your mother passed away tonight." I lived in daily fear of that call.
Now, after tommorrow, I can answer the phone without fear
-
Blaise (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 2141
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:45 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Good for you and good for your mother. By telephone, I talk to my mother at least once daily. I enjoy her. I know that you love your mother in spite of the illness that ravages her.MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:24 pm Mom comes home tomorrow at 1:00pm. WOO HOO
That should end a great deal of my depression. You have to realize that during the last few weeks, I had a panic attack everytime the phone rang. Each time I answered it I was afraid it was going to be a nurse saying, "your mother passed away tonight." I lived in daily fear of that call.
Now, after tommorrow, I can answer the phone without fear
-
MacTheWolf (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:22 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
DAMN CHEAP-ASS NURSING HOME
I arrived there at 12:45pm to sign out mom.
The nurses said they had a wheelchair van to take her home but not a spare wheelchair. I had to walk home three blocks, grab mom's wheelchair and wheel it back up there. GROWL
UPDATE: Mom is home watching her TV in her favorite chair. She sipped cold water so far. I'll see later how she handles my cooking.
The only problem so far is that I can't understand 75% of what she says. I suppose I'll be doing a lot of guessing or take up mind-reading.
I'm glad she's home. It's not lonley here now
I arrived there at 12:45pm to sign out mom.
The nurses said they had a wheelchair van to take her home but not a spare wheelchair. I had to walk home three blocks, grab mom's wheelchair and wheel it back up there. GROWL
UPDATE: Mom is home watching her TV in her favorite chair. She sipped cold water so far. I'll see later how she handles my cooking.
The only problem so far is that I can't understand 75% of what she says. I suppose I'll be doing a lot of guessing or take up mind-reading.
I'm glad she's home. It's not lonley here now
-
MacTheWolf (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 4186
- Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2003 9:22 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
I tried to call mom's "court-appointed attorney" to let her know mom was home but she was out of the office so I'll try later or tomorrow.
I called mom family physician to let them know mom was home. They said they would notify In Home Supportive Services which will bring out the nurse every two weeks and Frankie, her favorite LVN, who would bathe her, do her hair and nails, bring her free goodies like sweaters and slippers and most of all talk to her.
The nurse at Dr. Gomer's office told me I could make a followup appointment after mom was home for a week or so. I mentioned we no longer had a car but she said, "no problem." Transportation can be arranged she said, for FREE, paid for by Medicare.
Sounds go so far.
After the last month of depression and Hell, it's nice to have some good news for a change
I called mom family physician to let them know mom was home. They said they would notify In Home Supportive Services which will bring out the nurse every two weeks and Frankie, her favorite LVN, who would bathe her, do her hair and nails, bring her free goodies like sweaters and slippers and most of all talk to her.
The nurse at Dr. Gomer's office told me I could make a followup appointment after mom was home for a week or so. I mentioned we no longer had a car but she said, "no problem." Transportation can be arranged she said, for FREE, paid for by Medicare.
Sounds go so far.
After the last month of depression and Hell, it's nice to have some good news for a change
-
Daughter (imported)
- Articles: 0
- Posts: 330
- Joined: Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:08 pm
-
Posting Rank
Re: One Day in the Life of a Wolf - Memorial 7-25-20
Oh I am so glad things are working out so far, and looking up it seems. My grandmother died in August, four years after having a major stroke. She too lost her speech, and would answer every question with a resounding "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo..." It was the only thing she could make work. She did eventually regain a vocabulary of some 200 words. Unfortunately she ended up having another stroke that reset her vocab to "No." You might want to ask around about maybe getting your Mom a speech therapist. I'm not sure how that would fit in with Medicare, but it's worth asking.
My grandmother died in August, four years after having a major stroke. She too lost her speech, and would answer every question with a resounding "NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo..." It was the only thing she could make work. She did eventually regain a vocabulary of some 200 words. Unfortunately she ended up having another stroke that reset her vocab to "No." You might want to ask around about maybe getting your Mom a speech therapist. I'm not sure how that would fit in with Medicare, but it's worth asking.