About a month ago my grandma started getting weaker, had a few falls, a few moments of confusion, then last Tuesday, she went a little crazy so I got her to the doctor where she was diagnosed with dehydration, UTI, and high calcium levels, she stayed in the hospital over night where she was given IV fluids came home with antibiotics, then this Tuesday she fell again I called an ambulance where she was admitted for the last few days mostly because of dehydration everything looks good. Every day when I go to see her she looks worse she barely even talks anymore she is confused. She is weak the doctor is ordering in home physical therapy, they said I can take here home tomorrow she lives with me, my cousin has been nagging me to keep her in the hospital, I need to get her home, she is not the 86 year old grAndma that I. Brought in, I have set up caregivers and she will get the therapy, and if this doesn't work we can do the rehab in a nursing home. I know that I don't bring her home she will get worse. Am I making the right choice?
Given the fact that she had a UTI, was dehydrated and had high calcium levels, I would feel more comfortable with her being in a rehab facility where the nurses can monitor all of these issues to ensure that when she does come home, they are not issues any more.
Monitoring of that nature can be done daily or more often; at home, a home care nurse generally isn't available 24/7 in the event of an emergency or to take blood draws on a regular basis.
Someone who's that weak is not going to feel much like participating in therapy at home, where the furniture, rails, etc. are not as practically configured as they are in rehab. Better that the current issues be resolved so that she has a better change of recovering when she does come home.
I recall after my father had surgery for fractured hips. Granted that it was a more complex situation, I still can't imagine having tried to take care of him without the support of the aides, wheelchair accommodation bathroom, railings along the hall, 24/7 monitoring, catered meals, and other assistance he had in rehab.
Another way to look at the situation is that you can provide more effective care if she comes home in better condition than she is now. If she relapses, if the UTI isn't cured, she'll be right back in the hospital, perhaps more confused and perhaps depressed as well. That's not a chance I would be comfortable taking.
No question here, have them discharge her to rehab where they have all services onsite so no excuses for not getting therapies done. Scheduling home therapies is very difficult, schedules constantly change etc. This sounds like too much care for home.
1teach listen to your cousin. Who has grandma's POA's? Are all of her documenets in order?
But a TCU (transitional care unit) which helps the transition from full hospital care to going home might really be best for everyone, with the full intention that she is coming home as soon as she regains some strength. You can reevaluate that later if need be, but let her have maximum help during the recuperation period.
You do not mention if she has dementia. That would make a difference to my answer.
Grandma isn't being the same person you brought in, that is very common with elders when they go from home into the hospital for whatever reason. The mind becomes confused by all the new faces and new noises. I saw that with my Mom.
My Mom refused to go from the hospital into a rehab facility where she could get help with her balance and dehydration. Nope, she wanted to go home. She felt she was back to normal so she even refused the visiting nurses and the physical therapist who were coming to the house. She even told the professional caregivers to leave and not come back.
Guess what? Less than a week later Mom fell again but this time she hit her head. She is now in long term care under hospice watch. The damage cannot be repaired. She caused her own undoing with her choices :(
Just food for thought.
See All Answers