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My Mom has been having pain in her lower back and buttocks so on the advice of her general md, she has an app't in the middle of July with an orthopedic doctor. She is having problems walking so I bought her a walker with wheels to help her.


She was using the walker to get to the bathroom but I had found out she was peeing in plastic cups in her room and last Friday night she was carrying her cup of pee and using the walker where she spilled the cup and she had a bad fall where she dislocated her hip. I called an ambulance and it took 4 tries in the ER to get her leg popped back into her hip again.


Doctors in the ER put a brace on her from her knee to ankle which makes it almost impossible for her to walk now. I am able to get her to wear diapers.


We don't have the money for a nursing home as my Mom bought a house (the advice of 2 different elder care attorneys) and I need help. I can't live my Mom and there is no one else to help me. I'm 60 and not as strong as I used to be.


My Mom has medicare but not Medicaid and I don't think she would qualify for that. I could get someone in about twice a week for 2 hours to help (we can afford that).


Mom is very depressed and I am really nervous about taking her to any future doctor app'ts because it's too hard to get her in and out of my car.


I'm facing so many obstacles now...


Thanks for any advice,
Jenna

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Update: I did call Medicare and they told me that my Mom is covered for in-home PT. Then I called her doctor and told the receptionist this. Medicare told me that the doctor should have a list of agencies who sent PT's to the house and they have 2 agencies.

I'm waiting for a call back. So the lesson learned is that I should not believe the first person I talk to. Thanks everyone!
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I'm really shocked that rehab wasn't ordered for your mom after her fall, unless you or she declined it. My husband was in rehab for 4 months after being 911-ed to the hospital for mobility issues. He's been home for about a month now and we are getting occupational and physical therapy 3 times a week, a visiting RN once a week and a bath aide who even changes his bed once a week, which the nurse said was to give me a break. This was all orchestrated by the social worker st the rehab facility, but hospitals have social workers also who can help. I'm also surprised no one contacted you about that. You shouldn't have to self-pay for any of this. Medicare even covers the creams and lotions I use to keep my husband's skin in good shape. Have you contacted anyone about this--your doctor's staff, the ER where she was or Medicare itself? There is help out there if you become proactive and search for it. Good luck!
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Jenna PT will help Mom as long as she puts the effort in herself.
A raised toilet seat can be helpful but I personally find them unstable. I take the bucket out of my commode and slip the frame one the toilet. If Mom can't safely walk to the toilet let her use the commode where ever she spends most time. The Dr can order any equipment you need and medicare will pay although there will be a small co-pay. This can include a bed, wheelchair and any other equipment the PT may feel helpful. I have everything I need including all tube feeding supplies, oxygen equipment and six weeks of IV antibiotics.
It will probably take several weeks for Mom's hips to become stable again so you both need to be patient and celebrate every small improvement.
Why didn't they call in orthopedics when Mom first went to the ER. Waiting till the middle of July for an appointment for an acute condition is ridiculous. next day would be more appropriate. Everyone needs to be more assertive when it comes to healthcare. You don't need to accept what the gatekeepers say try banging on a few desks. Hubby and I have got ourselves white a reputation for that and we feared getting blackballed but in fact the opposite has happened. So don't give up either of you.
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I don't understand why the dr won't at least order a home PT evaluation. She has definately undergone a change, both medically and functionally. I would think that even having a fall would qualify for some intervention.
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You said you called Rehab. You need to contact her primary doctor. I would think that a 91 yo who had a fall would be a good candidate for at least Home PT. She has definately had a change in medical (hip dislocation) and functional (had a fall, can't get around well) status. They can also instruct you in how to assist her. I think Medicare would pay for it. The usual amt is about 2-3 times /week for 2-3 weeks. OT and Nursing is also helpful. Please call the doctor and explain the situation.
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Mom should have gone to rehab. Try contacting her dr to see if this can be done. She probably is on hip precautions, so she doesn't dislocate. If not, she should at least have home PT for an evaluation and to instruct you on how to help her. I'm a PT, but I don't know how long it has been since this happened and am not sure about rehab coverage after she has been sent home.
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If the doctor is willing to order it, I wouldn't bother calling medicare.
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Update: It's been a long 6 days. A nurse came to our home and evaluated my Mom. She showed me how to do certain things and recommended items that I should buy such as an elevated toilet seat.

The next day the nurse called me and told me that my Mom needed to go back to the ER because she didn't have a bowel movement for 10 days that I knew of. I think the nurse's goal was to get my Mom in rehab. So I followed her instructions and my Mom did go back to the ER and was admitted to the hospital. She spent almost 4 days there and was transferred to the rehab today.

Tomorrow she starts PT twice daily and occ. therapy. Of course I go and visit her and she seemed confused to where she was and I just kept telling her that she will learn to walk better so she can be more independent again.

My Mom is tough even with all her complaining. I am praying that the PT helps her.

Thanks for reading!
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I am so happy that your mom is in rehab. It's a break for you to digest all that has happened the past few weeks and will help her learn how to help get herself around.
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Update: Brought Mom home today from rehab and I'm so happy she is home! She worked really hard and is so much stronger now. The PT worked with me and taught me how to get her up and down the 3 stairs that are the entrance to our ranch house. He also taught me how to use the gait belt and how to get my Mom in and out of my car.

Her discharge papers were signed late last night and I didn't want to bring her home in the dark plus it was raining hard along with thunderstorms. I also found out that I needed to learn how to empty my Mom's catheter bag. I didn't know the doctor wanted her to have that attached. Nurse showed me what I needed to learn.

When she was in the rehab they transported her to the orthopedic doctor who x-rayed her again and found 2 fractures in her hips which he said would take about 6 weeks to heal.

So all is good! Doctor ordered a transfer bath chair and some other things I will need. I already bought a transfer wheel chair because I don't want to leave her alone when I need to go food shopping and other things. I have to find out if I can get reimbursed for that from Medicare.

Just glad to have my Mom home again!
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