Mom had kyroplasy? To heal injured compression fracture now she’s in rehab. Now our 21 days will be up and they’re recommending memory care? She was on morphine and other pain meds in hospital but family are all completely dumbfounded by this? If we do not agree with their discharge recommendations, what do families do?

I need help with walking and getting back on my feet and all my friends but 4 are dead. The 4 friends are not able to help me much or live in different cities. My family are all dead. Can anyone help me?

82 dad broke rt shoulder and pelvis. Been rehab a month. Won't eat hardly anything. Drinks 1 or 2 Ensure w protein and a pudding or 2?

This is the most important question ask of a family member who cares for a elderly person. Depending on elders physical and mental state, Do Not Allow a primary care doctor put you in a position that you are not prepared to choose. "Senior Care Facility"
It is something that you must research and find excellent references for. When your loved one needs additional care and is being discharged from a hospital, to a rehabilitation/nursing home, you are entering into a new experience. No your limitations for care and never completely trust a facility to give the care you can give. Nursing and Therapy is what you will receive. A doctor you will never see. Depending on your health insurance coverage, that will determine how many days your love one will stay. Do your homework right now.

It bothers me deeply that our loved ones are treated this way in a lot of these facilities. Until you have dealt with one, all we see is the outside and the fancy lobby etc. If we sent our pets to a facility and it came back with inches deep pressure sores and broken limbs there would be an uproar in this Country. This system needs to change. This is what our seniors deserve after years of hard work, raising families, etc?

Yes, Easeliving, I, unfortunately, have become VERY educated as to the types of rehab available (MRUs -- medical rehab units in hospitals which deal with specific types of intense rehab, i.e. for stroke patients, heart bypass patients, etc. --- and SARs -- subacute rehabs in facilities such as nursing homes, etc. I only WISH my mother could have been sent to a MRU in a hospital setting, however, she was not qualified for that intensive rehabilitation due to her broken leg -- she had to be sent to subacute. Therefore, it began the all-encompassing run-around of applications and hoping/waiting for somewhere decent to "accept" my Mom. Thankfully, my husband had some connections or she would have ended up somewhere REALLY REALLY horrible. This is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Help2day, I hope things begin to go better. I do so remember how I felt about going through so much with 2 out of the 3 rehab facilities. I would go straight to the director with your concerns and there is also a nursing home ombudsman most likely in your state that you can contact if you feel there is neglect going on. Deep breaths and one day at a time, {{{Hugs}}}, Katie.

There are different types of inpatient rehab facilities. Most often those in hospitals (acute inpatient rehab) have a 3 hour per day therapy requirement. It is more intense therapy for a shorter stay. Rehab in nursing homes is usually Subacute Reab (SAR). The therapy requirements are less strict so it is less intense therapy but a longer stay. The problem is that many (not all!) SAR facilities are run by unscrupulous for profit companies who look at their bottom line more than what is best for the patient.

Katie222 ~ I agree 110% with your comments. Navigating the world of nursing home/rehab facilities is a nightmare! My 86-year old frail Mom who broke her leg at home is now back in "rehab". She really doesn't have a prayer to regain any mobility and will most likely be wheelchair bound and placed in long term care. However, we must go through this charade of "rehab" with her because she doesn't want to accept her frailty and end of life limitations. She is non-weightbearing on her leg for AT LEAST 2 more months, where upon the PT and OT therapist will attempt to get her on her feet. She has severe osteoporosis and bone-on-bone osteoarthritis is both knees! (She should have had knee replacements years ago, but would whine about "how much pain" she would have to endure so she chose not to have them done.) She is now reaping the results of her poor decisions and I am left being guilted into caring for her. I am at the end of my rope with patience. I have DPOA for her (which I am sure she is now regretting) because I am getting more and more short-tempered with her.

She was recently re-hospitalized from rehab because they weren't paying attention to her and was spiking a 102 degree temp and was delirious. I found her being pushed around to the dining rooms and left there and no one feeding her or anything. I went ballistic on the nurses/PT/OT people and INSISTED they take her to the ER for treatment. After 3 days of excellent hospital care, she is back in the same rehab center because no one else will take her based on her future financials. I had to call in a "favor" to have her placed in this "5-star" facility; otherwise her other options were horrendous. I am at my wits end.

Kat, I hope things go well for you and your Mom and that the facility is good, and your Mom can get back home again soon! {{Hugs}}, Katie.

Wow Katie, what a horrendous ordeal for you and mom. Glad you shared because my mom is headed to inpatient rehab for a fractured hip. The insight you provided helps me understand what to keep an eye on with my moms experience. Thank u

I have very mixed feeling about rehab in nursing homes and acute rehab facilities. The first time my Mom went it was ok, but she was glad to get home. Then 3 years later she went after falling and suffering a compound arm fracture. The facility, while promoting itself with fancy decor etc. basically let Mom lie in bed and she developed a stage 4 pressure sore many centimeters deep. The facility did not tell me about the sore. It was discovered by the intake nurse at the hospital where Mom was rushed with delirium from a UTI. I kept telling people at the facility that Mom was not herself and they let it progress to delirium. The second nursing home she went to, while appearing all was well from the lobby, was a calamity. An aide let her sink to the floor while trying to transfer her and broke her leg. After all this I vowed to keep her at my home and she had home PT. She ended up in a third nursing home only because my husband needed surgery, and this private pay facility was really good. I did take her home for her last months on hospice anyhow.