Husband had stroke is paralyzed on left side fell and fractured his left arm and left femur/hip ~ has been in rehab for hip surgery 3 weeks being released Wednesday and is a double assist for 5 more weeks ~ I have no help ~ all they tell me is I have to get him somehow ~ I now have covid and am very sick and I'm still told that's my problem they will drop him at home ~ if I'm in hospital with covid what are my options
How are you feeling?
Hoping you will update us on all of this.
Thinking of you.
Are you planning on hiring a caregiver to help for the next month and a half?
At this point you tell the facility that you can not care for him that you are ill.
If they were to "drop him at home" you can call 911 and ask for him to be transported to the hospital.
It is time that you are honest with yourself...will you be able to care for him yourself. Not just for the next 6 weeks but for the next X number of years?
If you intend on caring for him at home ask the doctor to write orders for equipment that will enable you to care for him safely at home.
A Hoyer Lift is a safe piece of equipment to use, typically it should be used with 2 people but can be operated by 1 in a home setting. Trust me it is a game changer when caring for some one that has limited strength, mobility and may be bedbound.
If this is not something that you can manage yourself a caregiver will be a blessing not just with the extra help but by allowing you to get out a bit knowing he is safe with someone else at home. Alternative is looking for a facility that can care for him. Probably Skilled Nursing since he would be a 2 person transfer and SNF have the ability to use equipment that other facilities can not use.
NOW, the problem here is something other. Covid will pass. But the problem remains. If you aren't able to care for him he needs placement. And it is far into the game to come to this conclusion because discharge planning starts on day one of rehab. So you need to be honest if he isn't able to return home, whether permanently or temporarily.
Do know that Medicare will stop paying the rehab. If he does remain there the bills will you YOURS and they will be HUGE. So you have a serious problem late in the game and need to speak to social workers there on Monday morning.
Hope you get well and are taking the Pax.