My mother has been in a rehab facility for almost one month. She had major surgery on her stomach. She has now just started to walk from her bed to bathroom. She’s wants to go home but the care team said she’s not physically ready. Can she force the center to release her?
Your Mom can always leave but it would be Against Medical Advice (AMD). They do not have to send you home with any orders or prescriptions. But, they do have to do a "safe discharge" meaning Mom would have to prove that her home is safe for her. That someone will be there 24/7 if they feel that is the care she needs. She can set up therapy in her home. The Rehab will not do that if she goes AMA.
Another thing is money. Medicare only pays 100% the first 20 days. 21st to 100 is 50%. Mom would need a good secondary to pick up the 50% Medicare does not pay. If the secondary doesn't pay at approx 150 a day Mom now owes about $1500. If she is in the whole 100 days, that could be as much as $12,000. And you don't want to put her on Medicaid at this point because they will ask for her SS and any pension she gets. The only time I would consider Medicaid was if my Mom needed 24/7 care in a NH. When my Mom was in for getting her strength back, I told Rehab they needed to do what they needed to do by the 20 days because there was no money to extend Moms stay. She was out in 18 and that was too long.
I sympathize with Mom. It takes on average 6 weeks to recuperate from surgery. An elderly person longer. But you do wonder if she would do better in her own home with therapy coming in. I sat with my Mom in a Rehab facility and its boring. Therapy is only a couple if times a day, if that. So Mom is just sitting around the rest of the time. I can sit around my house all day, but I have the option to walk out the door or sit on my porch, get myself something to eat. Moms mental state is important too.
I would find out what the plan is and how long they are looking at, they will have this, it is required by insurance.
We as adult children need to be aware that our parents have a right to make the wrong decision. Just don't expect us as the children are going to pick up the pieces because a wrong decision has been made. Like being expected to care for them.