Can anyone give me advice on in home services?

More big brother at work I get it.

sherry, all hospitals now have social workers assigned to patients, and a discharge coordinator. Usually they just make sure all the services are in place to send the patient home. If they hesitate, there is usually a good reason. Too many well-meaning families take on more than they can handle. The patient falls or meds get mixed up or the family underestimates the amount of care that is needed or people who promised to help don't show up.

How does a caseworker get involved in the first place? I guess I'm naive about that kind of thing.

Sherry, if they are sending a caseworker to check the house prior to release, then social services is already undecided about letting mom go there. If the discharge coordinator is not linking her up to visiting nurses/aides/PT, then the DC is also in doubt. It sounds like mom will need 24/7 care for now.

I got a caregiver for my mother. I don't have lots of money, but she needed a place to live and a small salary. They have companions, CNAs and registered nurses all listed there. I think it cost me $25 to sign up. When you say you are broke, that's different for different people. Does it mean you live paycheck to paycheck in a 1 bedroom apartment or does it mean you have a house with a couple of extra bedrooms and you can squeeze out a small amount extra over and above your mother's social security check? Were either of your parents in the military, if so, your mom may be eligible for a veteran's pension. My mother gets one and it's enough to pay her companion (about $1000 per month) Is your mother able to motivate on her own at all? Is she paralyzed and needs skilled nursing care. With more information, we could better help with our answers. I think Pam may have misunderstood when you said you are broke. You do have a job so I'm relatively sure they will be glad to release your mother to you. How would they know anyway even if you were dead broke? Nobody ever asked me if I could afford my mother.

My mother was in rehab and the only thing they wanted to make sure of was that she would have the care she needed when she got home. I made arrangements for a caregiver while I was at work. Medicaid will help pay for the aides. They never asked if I had money. They also made arrangements for my mother to have whatever equipment she needed at home. It is not an easy job. Take advantage of all the services available to your mother. Best of luck.

Patients are generally not released into a situation where there is no money, because they assume you want the patient for their SS check to help make your ends meet. Talk to the discharge coordinator, but I doubt if they will let you have her.