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My 97-year-old dad, with some dementia, just had hip-surgery, three weeks ago. Previously, he was at an AL place (where he fell) and was living with my 93-year-old mom. When he woke up from the successful surgery surgery, we thought, we was going to be okay as he was in good spirits and little pain.



He is currently at a rehab facility, about 45 minutes away. We visit him daily. Since then, he has fallen out of bed at least twice, he sleeps all the time, barely eats or drinks and lost 10 lbs in two weeks - and yes, he does get PT 1-2x/day - if they can wake him up. Despite a strong heart, we feel like he is slipping away from us, but the rehab facility said last week that this can be normal and we just need to wait and see. Two days ago, they finally gave him an IV of water and started him on Remeron (which might make him more tired and out of it?). Today my brother visited him and said this was the worst he has seen him.



When he is cleared to go home, we are hopeing the AL will take him back-which we would pay for a private caregiver (but we could only pay for part time as it is $$$). We are at peace with whatever happens, but we just want him to be comfortable.



I have so many questions - who do we ask for help and guidance on such matters: What if AL does not allow him back, what do we do? I believe he is dying and being at a rehab facility seems so wrong (my brother says at least he's getting 24/7 care). Can AL places deal with end-of-life care? Would finding an AFH be better? How do we know if the end is near (hospice has been requested and denied). Should we try and get him out of the rehab place to somewhere more comfortable and comforting? Or do we just go with the flow and wait and see (which sounds crazy to me)



I (daughter) am exhausted, emotionally drained and am sick myself from the stress of caretaking and navigating at this time.



Thank you ahead of time for any words of advice, experiences or direction you may have.

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AL will sometimes refuse a resident in this condition BUT not if he's on hospice! That's how I kept my parents together in AL after dad broke his hip and made no progress in rehab. He became a 2 person assist and AL said he'd have to go to Skilled Nursing......but what about mom???? They said they'd keep him in AL IF he was on hospice, however, with that extra layer of care, so I took him to the ER where the docs said he had 6 months or less to live due to a brain tumor that was growing. I hired hospice and dad got to stay put in AL until he died shortly afterward.

I find it absurd that your dad would be turned down for hospice, at 97, in his present condition! Speak with his doctor who knows him and get a referral.

I'd get him out of rehab and back to his AL asap once you get hospice on board, providing the AL will take him.

Best of luck with a difficult situation.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Okay this is good info. Below, I stated I do not want to go back to hospital, but this is very good info to know - a work around for hospice. Thank you so much for your advice, and for taking the time to write - it is very helpful
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The following is general, not specific to your Dad. (Mostly told to me by medical staff in Aus).

- a broken hip past 85 CAN be a game changer
- a broken hip past 90 OFTEN is
- the acute stay in hospital is only for the ACUTE stage of the injury eg surgery (it can feel like being pushed out 😔)
- rehab CAN be suitable IF patient can cognitively participate ie is not confused, impulsive or has any delerium
- surgery, pain, trauma can all cause delerium
- delerium post operative can be on top of the dementia - can be very hard to distinguish, but
- delerium CAN fade OR
- delerium can exacerbate the dementia & even become 'the new normal' functioning level
- being in unfamiliar environments can ADD to confusion. This can ADD to falls risk (as you have seen)
- all falls are dangerous
- falls with injury requiring hospital treament again will add to the trauma
- this is known as a Chain of Adverse Effects, or
- a broken hip is also widly called by Doctors The Begining of the End (I know that sounds harsh, but I see it as Mother Nature doing what she must).

As far as pathways go;
Home: if independant.
Rehab: if needed
*with aim to return previous abilitiy - so this is why rehab would be tried* to give your Dad his best chance 🙏
Care: returning to their usual room can be better (if cognitively impaired) - adding physio visits, extra care as available/affordable
Comfort Care: Hopefully in their usual room. If not, a suitable location with the right level care.

I hope this boring list helps somewhat.

I am sorry this happened. ❤️
Your Dad has had a long life & it may be time to spend some time with him & ask him + your Mother what they want to do now.

Hope for the best. But be realistic.

I send (((hugs)))
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Any time that an elderly person has to be put under anesthesia for surgery it can cause dementia type symptoms afterwards. And if the person already has dementia like your dad, it just makes the dementia worse. Sometimes after several weeks it may improve and sometimes it doesn't improve at all.
Plus often a fall is what will ultimately do an elderly person in.
Your dad being 97 is more than likely not going to do well, and more than likely hospice will need to be brought in. You say that hospice has been denied, but I find that hard to believe. I hope you know that you yourself can call hospice in for an evaluation. And if one turns him down(which I can't imagine why)call another hospice agency in your area, as all areas have multiple hospice agencies.
Your dad now needs to just be kept comfortable until he leaves this world for the next, and hospice will make sure that he is.
I'm sure that at 97, your dad is tired and more than ready to call it quits.
Best wishes in getting him the best hospice care, even if that means having him placed in a hospice home.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Still learning here, I wonder if we would have to pay for hospice out of pocket. I will do more research on this. In another post, I wrote that they only approve hospice if the patient has cancer - that is what I was told. It's does not make sense to me at all. Thank you so much for your reply.
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Talk to rehab social worker and discharge planning.
I cannot, to be honest, believe that Hospice was refused for a 97 year old not doing well after hip surgery. I would speak with the ordering doctor and try that again. And yet AGAIN if refused.

You are correct, the ALF cannot accept a patient at this level. Discharge may need to be to SNF (skilled nursing facility) or in facility hospice which is rare as hen's teeth.

It is common for falls to bring on, when there is serious injury, the beginning of the end.
I think that you have to leave this in the hands of the facilities for discussion. Soon they will be discussing discharge planning with you, and the options. But start yourself with contact Monday with the Social Workers at the rehab and tell them exactly what you have told us.

I am so very sorry.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate it and will talk with the folks you recommended. We do know a social worker that has worked with my dad (for OT) - didn't help him much because he couldn't remember what they taught him, was so stubborn and didn't want help. Nonetheless, this SW I think can offer some help. But I do see on some ADF websites that they deal with two person transfers and end-of-life care - this gives me some hope. Or maybe go straght to SNF (not our first choice). Hope this response makes sense?
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Sunny, (((hugs))).

If your dad was cheerful and in good spirits after surgery and THEN there was a change in his physical and mental status, something medical may have changed--a stroke, heart attack, a broken bone,-- something acute that is causing this lethargy.

Without a trip to the ER or a real workup with imaging and blood work, you won't know (maybe that was done?)

1. I would ask a different hospice organization for an eval. And get a detailed answer as to their denial. (Is it because he can't have rehab and hospice at the same time?)

2. If he keeps declining therapy, rehab will not be able to keep him; Medicare will not pay.

3. Sure, have the AL come in and assess him, but be prepared for them to decline readmission.

4. Get the rehab to lower his bed so he stops falling, or get crash pads put on the floor.

5. Start looking for a SNF; it sounds like that's what he needs on the short term.

Good luck! Keep in touch.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Thank you so much for your reply - very helpful info. What is SNF? And I will ask for a detailed answer.

It is strange that he was doing ok after surgery - could be the drugs or that we were all (entire family) surrounding him right after surgery which made him so happy.

But as time went on, I think just being alone in the hospital at night, then in the rehab place (we are there, but not in the night and sometimes only a couple hours at at time) adds to his confusion. And this is hard. He wanted to live to 100 - ugh! But I think he is realizing that it is tougher than he thought (and on us!).
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I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing this as I am all too familiar with aging parents in rehab. Unfortunately, in my experience, rehab only focuses on PT. When it comes to dealing with health issues not related to their PT, the rehab people seem completely lost. (And I have been to a lot of them over the years of care taking) I had to advocate for my parents at every step. If you feel that you father is declining, maybe get him to the ER and check what exactly is happening. And often times they have an undiagnosed UTI. It's exhausting but, I'm sure you are doing the absolute best that you can. Don't forget to take care of yourself. I have put myself last in the care taking department and it's a big price to pay later on.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Thank you for your answer. You sound like you have been through it and you know! Good advice for self-care - I need to do better on this.
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As said, Rehab is not a nursing facility. My daughter was an admitting nurse for a NH and more than once she sent a patient back to the hospital because they were discharged too early. You have the right to have Dad sent to the hospital. If the Rehab won't call an ambulance, than u do. He is not in prison. Then ur mind will be at rest that you did everything for him. If its felt by a doctor that Hospice is needed, then call the AL and ask if he can return if Hospice is called in. I don't see why extra aides will need to be paid for. He is already paying big bucks for his care in the AL. The RN on staff or a medtech can give him his meds. AL aides will only be needed for changes of Depends, PJs and bedding. Hospice should be supplying an aide for bathing. Maybe ask how many hours you can get that aide. Maybe the AL will just increase Dads daily care payment for the xtra care needed. If family is willing to be there as much as possible, I don't see a problem with the AL allowing him back.

Does Mom also have Dementia? If not, she will be there to sit with him. A broken hip in the elderly is very serious and can cause death. If its found Dad is OK. I would not send him back to rehab. Its really no place for someone who suffers from Dementia. IMO he needs to be back with his wife and familiar surroundings. Rehab can be ordered to be done at the AL.
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
Lots of info her: My mom is pretty sprite but all the onus has been put on her - which is too much and not fair. And she is the only reason dad was able to stay in AL (this and the minimul AL staff help, as well as a private caregiver 2x/week); we were able to keep him somewhat afloat. Now, it is very clear that this probably won't work anymore. Unless we get (much) more private help -at best. But we were really hoping that if he does not have long to live, we thought this could be an option for him.

I don't feel comfortable going back to the hospital unless an emergency. We felt so unwelcomed there. On his second day after the surgery (day after christmas), the doctor said, he's ready to go/leave hospital. They wanted him out of there. That for me was disheartening - we didn't know where to go. After that, the nurses barely came by to check on him (and why I was there all day, everyday). I guess they have patients that stay a long time and they made it very clear we weren't welcome (this is in Bellevue, WA). We wanted him out of there too, but the case manager hadn't even contacted us as it was the holidays. Again, new territory for us and we didn't know what was going on. Fortunately, after the new year, the case manager contacted us. But this is a strong reason why I don't feel comfortable bringing him back to hospital. Again, I am not a hospital/healthcare expert and don't quite understand how all this works - kind of like deer in headlights.

Thank you for your info - it is very helpful and stuff I did not think about!
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Snf is a skilled nursing facility.

There should have been a discharge planning meeting with dad/mom to determine where he was going for rehab, holiday or not.

Please remember that you are allowed to refuse to sign for discharge if you think it's unsafe. Keep saying the phrase "unsafe discharge" and make sure MOM doesn't get bullied.

There is a patient advocate department in every hospital. If you feel ignored, bullies, that's where you go.

Every rehab/nursing home has an ombudsman whose information is listed in the lobby. If you aren't getting anywhere with the administration, that's where you go for information and corrective action.

Finally, hospice is NOT just for cancer patients. That PA should be reported to her/his department chair.

Ask about "palliative care" as well. Hospice is palliative (as opposed to curative). If dad can't/won't rehab, I think you want to start thinking about comfort rather than cure.

Go over the PA's head. Find out what hospice organization(s) are already active in the facility and call them directly, asking for an assessment.
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Why was hospice denied ?

If your father does not improve and does not show progress in rehab he will probably need to be placed in a SNF ( skilled nursing facility ) as AL will most likely not take him back .

Some AL will handle end of life care if hospice is coming in . But then you still may have to hire supplemental aides coming in at least part of the time .
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Sunnybea Jan 21, 2024
We will try and find out the exact reason for the denial. Thank you for your answer, this is kind of what I was thinking might happen. Actually, I just found out through reading the assement notes. Last line in notes stating - 'Denial for hospice at this time'. Ugh. We will try again.
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Sunny, I think the biggest bar to hospice right now is that dad is in rehab. Medicare is not going to pay for Hospice and rehab together, as the latter is curative.

I totally get that this is like being spoken to in a foreign language. I used to say to discharge folks "pretend I'm an idiot. Talk to me like I'm 5."
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