Helping Seniors Celebrate This Holiday Season
December 21, 2021Memory Loss Does Not Mean All Hope is Lost
February 17, 2022It is the hope of most family members and caregivers that their senior loved one is able to return home to as normal a life as possible after a short stay in a transitional rehab facility. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. There are instances when a short term stay turns into a long term one, and their loved one must move from transitional rehab into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility. Family members and caregivers often do not expect or even want this to happen.
While in the transitional rehab facility, treatment goals are set by the medical team and other staff members based on the individual’s condition and what that person needs to learn or relearn to do. If, for example, the person has suffered a fractured or broken hip, that individual may have an initial rehab goal of learning to walk safely. After a stroke, a person may need to relearn how to feed or dress themselves.
Unfortunately for some patients, progress is little or slow in reaching initial treatment goals. There are various reasons why this may happen including the patient being too weak or too sick, rendering them unable to do the required therapy and exercise. No matter how hard these patients may try, they simply do not respond to treatment immediately.
The amount of progress the senior adult makes can also affect insurance payments for rehabilitation services. A majority of insurance providers pay for services based on how a patient is meeting their initial treatment goals. If the individual is not making enough progress to satisfy insurance requirements, the coverage may stop. If this happens and the person is unable to take care of themselves at home, a long term stay in an assisted living or skilled nursing facility may be required. Long term stays will not require as many intensive therapy sessions as a stay in transitional rehabilitation.
Below are some of the reasons a senior may not be able to return home.
– Environmental Concerns
The patient’s home is not equipped for those with mobility issues, making it hard for the individual to get around or manage things on their own. Most kitchens and bathrooms are not arranged in a way that makes it easy for a person using a wheelchair or walker to easily move around. Many homes have outside stairs or stairways to upper levels that a person with mobility or other health issues will not be able to manage alone. These problems can be fixed and some patients will be able to return home once these issues have been addressed.
– Dementia
Occasionally, the rehab staff may notice signs of dementia including memory loss or disorientation that has gone unnoticed at home. They may then inform family members that it is not safe for the patient to return home
– Isolation or depression
If a patient is experiencing bouts of extreme sadness or depression, it may be recommended that they move into long term care. When the individual has no one close by to help on a regular basis, depression can get much worse.
– At home care services
Many insurance providers will not pay for every at home service that is needed once the patient leaves the transitional rehab facility. Medicare, for example, does not cover long term at home care.
– Caregiver limitations
Family members and other caregivers may not have the time that is now required to help once the patient returns home. They may also have their own health issues, responsibilities and other limitations on how much assistance they can provide.
Conclusion
Finding out that a senior loved one will need long term care after transitional rehab can be upsetting and stressful for those who care for them. At Elderberry Healthcare, we understand that it is always a possibility that a patient in our transitional rehab facility may not be able to fully recover after a serious illness or accident. If the need ever arises, Elderberry’s Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing Services are just down the hall. There is no need to move to a different building and the experienced and helpful administration is the same regardless of the level of care. Contact us today to learn more.