My mother frequently falls out of bed. The doctor has ordered a special mattress to prevent her falls. What is shocking is that the nursing home is asking me (her daughter) to pay for it. The mattress is designed to prevent falls. The mattress has cushions that surround the edge of the bed to promote a safe bed environment, without the need for confining side rails. As a back story, it took 6 months for them to order an air mattress when she first arrived to prevent bed sores. Is this legal?
Second, remind the nursing home that the funds, (if the NH receives the social security funds or the supplemental security income,) that your Mom has a personal allowance held back from SS, and it may have accumulated if not spent by your Mom. They can take out monthly payments from her personal allowance.
BTW. Where is her Stimulus money, located, or spent for her own needs?
The nursing home by law is not entitled to anyone's Stimulus money. I hope it wasn't handed over to them.
It isn't considered part of room-and-board costs if it was ordered by her doctor. That is when it becomes medically necessary. Medicare and Medicaid cover medically necessary costs.
The nursing home is trying to work a scam that's been going on for so long in care facilities that it's now a tradition.
It is the use of equipment and modifications that are not designed for and do not fit the beds they're used on that has led to (rare) fatal accidents and the consequent (almost universal) ban of important, valuable equipment such as bed rails.
Don't skimp and don't bodge. The reason the px'd equipment is so much more expensive is that skill and thought and quality control have gone into it, and these things are not free.
Mom went in with her walker. Yes, they supplied the wheelchair, geri chair and eventually a concaved mattress. I never signed for anything to be ordered so I assume that the items were on hand, left by former residents. We as a loan closet when we got a overrun of donated equipment called around to the homes to see if they could use it and they usually did.
Just because a Doctor writes an order doesn't mean Medicare will cover the cost. I doubt the average Dr. knows what Medicare will and won't pay for. So if the NH is asking that OP supply the mattress its because they don't and it cannot be ordered thru Medicare or secondary insurances. I have found that facilities are very good about doing the ordering if they can get a patient equipment.
Defined perimeter mattress will not guarantee she will not fall out of bed. They can still crawl over them.
She should be put in a very low bed near the floor. I find it very odd the nursing home does not know how to deal with high-risk fall patients since it is a nursing home.
Causes of frequent falls should be investigated. Any kind of psychotropics or narcotics increase risk for fall substantially due to decreased reflexes. Muscle relaxants, antihistamines, blood pressure medications, and anticonvulsants all too can contribute to falls. Any kind of room clutter, poor lighting, all play their part. Toileting is the most common cause of falls--they need to go to the bathroom, they will want to get up. Toileting should be scheduled.
I agree strongly with Cetude that the reason for asking ought to have been made clear.
My Moms facility supplied everything but that may be because former residents families donated the item. Moms bed was put as close to the floor as possible with a concave mattress and mats on the floor.
6 months does sound like a long time to place and receive an order. Since you are paying for the item maybe you can find a Durable equipment store that can order the item. Or even on line looking for the best price.