Can we place VNA services on hold and resume in a few weeks? We are weighing the pros/cons of one last family summer in our summer cottage, but do not want to miss losing out on services when we get back. I’m hesitant to ask the VNA nurse directly, so I welcome your experience!! 😊
Our background:
Mom, (early dementia), has been under 1x weekly VNA care since the winter. Mom is doing well and has been stable, though she will be starting a new med to manage sundowners. Mom lives with family now and has great support (help with meals, meds, etc.) The challenge now is that we need to be recertified to cover care for the next month.
At the same time, we want to take mom to our seasonal cottage for (ideally) a few weeks. She will be surrounded by the same family support but would be out of range for our current VNA set-up. This vacation has been our family summer routine for 20 years (so familiar surroundings for mom), and truthfully, this is likely her last summer there.
Our ideal plan is to enjoy this last summer with mom, and resume VNA visits in a few weeks and then slowly introduce hospice care in the fall.
Our questions:
-- Will we lose VNA care if we place visits on hold for a few weeks? What are the protocols to start/stop VNA?
-- Can we hold virtual visits with our nurse to remain “an active case” through the summer? Mom is tired of nurse visits, and we think she would benefit tremendously from a change of scenery in her summer cottage. (I am aware of the risk of changing environments with dementia, but don’t feel that is the case here)
--Has anyone done virtual visits with a visiting nurse for a few weeks to keep the file “active”
Is this even a possibility? Or does she need to be seen in person? Will Medicaid or Medicare still cover the visits if they are not in person? (I don’t know who is paying this bill, TBH, but it has been covered by her insurance).
-- Are there rules on the number of days that we need to stay within to be an active case?
-- Does she need to be in the same state to continue coverage?
--Any other tips to share?
Thank you for your expertise! What we do is important!
Other than that, I've had to reschedule, stop or change home visits and did so w/o any problem.
All of your questions should be directed toward the VNA specifically. Different areas may have different protocols.
There is a very good possibility that a few weeks at a summer cottage will be difficult for her.
How has mom expressed that she is tired of Nurse visits?
Or is it that she does not want someone other than family taking care of her?
Or that if the Nurse is asking her questions she is getting confused and it upsets her?
Have you asked your questions to the VNA? that is the source you are probably going to get the best response from.