My dad has leukemia and has been in and out of the hospital since he was first diagnosed a few years ago. After he was diagnosed, he was in the hospital for a month and came to live with me for about 2 years. He went back home earlier this year, so, my sister and I would prep meals for him that he could heat up. He would tell us that he was eating and when we would go back to the house, all the food would still be in the fridge.
Several weeks ago, we went to check on him and he was in the bed. Upon talking to him, he clearly needed to go to the hospital because he was disoriented. He ended up having a infection and needed rehab in order to gain his strength. His platelets were low, so they said he would recover better at home instead of going to a rehab hospital. Then, they told us that he would need 24 hour care. We both work and are unable to care for him like that. I addition, we are taking care of our mother who had a a stroke earlier this year and she is in the recovery process and has one side paralysis.
It is just my sister and I as the caregivers and it is really taking a toll on us. Any suggestions or ideas for getting 24 hour car would be greatly appreciated.
Normally I'd BLAST the hospital social worker because they seem to be spring loaded to send an elderly patient home instead of to rehab, but in this case, they are probably right. The fewer people he is around and a likely cleaner environment in your home or your sister's will lessen his chances of infection since his immune system is so compromised.
They just informed us yesterday afternoon that they couldn’t take him at rehab since his counts were too low.
My sister and I are doing the best we can because we alternate with taking care of our parents, but we can’t do this 24 hours a day.
When you were told this, did you explain that there is no one to provide that care and no money to pay for outside caregivers?
He belongs in a long term care setting. Call the hospital social worker and arrange for him to go to rehab. From there, he becomes a long term care patient. Ask for the rehab/nursing home's help in applying for Medicaid.
He is still getting treatment for cancer and had chemo earlier this week and has to go back to the hospital several days next week.
The social worker at the hospital said here is a list of companies that you can choose from and most of them are self pay and do not accept Medicare.
You need to visit a certified eldercare attorney and fond out how to get him qualified for Medicaid, either by setting up a qualified income trust or by spending down his money (by paying for care).
The big question, is he eligible for rehab. Rehab, after a 3 day hospital stay, should be covered by Medicare.