I'm caregiver to mom (87), currently in rehab. I have a f/t job and am going nuts trying to do this alone. Should I hire a care manager?

Ha! sure they make nicey nice with the facility in the hope of picking up more clients.. I was afraid of that. As far as surgery, if the primary will not clear her for surgery, nobody will take the case. Too much risk.

Well, her PCP has cleared her for it. But first doctor we went to said that he thinks she might have ostopenia, and that if he replaces her knee,e leg might fracture. But he also couldn't find her x-rays at first, and it seemed a little breezy. Said to do PT for 3 months and come back, maybe bones will have strengthened.

He's the same guy who wouldn't do her knee 5 yrs ago b/c BP was high. So I want to get a 2nd and 3rd opinion.

And yes on care mgr. It only occurred to me sort of midway like -- why does she keep siding with the facility over me, on my dime? b/c they're source of clients. Oh well - live and learn!

Maksik, if you want to bring someone home on wheels, see if you can get an in-home PT or OT visit to help evaluate accessibility and try to make the rehab staff work with you on transfers to bed, to bath, and selecting and obtaining equipment that will make it possible to manage. I remember when I thought maybe I'd get my mom home with help...I moved some furniture and would have had to use a commode as the bath would not have been easily accessible, though we might have managed that a few days a week (she'd already been washcloth-bathing for the most part before she fell and went into care) but we never did get to try it, even for a visit. Sometimes community organizations will help with ramps. You may even be able to rent things like patient lifts if mom's transfer skills are too limited and she's too heavy for you to lift or provide enough assist. There are some gadgets like transfer boards, turning discs that you stand on, and gait belt or vest you can even find in catalogs you can order from yourself that are less expensive if a total lift is not required.

oh boy, the fun begins. we took in my mom six years ago. it was snowing and my husband plowed the front yard and he built a ramp with my son. How many steps? If you get 2-4 strong people you can lift her into the house iin her wheelchair until you get a ramp. I have a ramp, and a hoyer lift now because she cannot walk. We are sitting her now in front of the fireplace, she is chewing on nothing, has no idea where she is and doesnt understand much, but will smile and kiss me when I ask her to. she is comfy and warm with a full belly, what else matters? lol bless you for taking her ho :o) its priceless. soon going to hoyer her into bed and change her diaper, she up late tonight! Amazon might have temporary ramps or your police dept, good luck. oh, they also have door hinges on amazon that will make your door open just a couple of more inches so a wheelchair can get through them.

ps hoyers are free through medicare, just ask the doctor for a prescription, hospital beds too, get electric if you can. I paid an extra $30 or electric and well worth it, after a year you own them all, as I do. If you get a bed ask for the new foam mattresses, not the gell pad, those are awful. I replaced my moms mattress with a memory foam one I bought, then found out they now give them thru ,medicare... Just FYI