Hospital pushing to discharge my Mom (82). How do I stop the discharge?

I was going through something similar with my father. I contacted the Department of Health and Human Services. An advocate called me back. The advocate said that the facility cannot discharge my father without having a safe place for him to go. They also have to give a 30 day notice and they are responsible for finding that safe place for him to be transferred to. My dad no longer had his home and no one in the family was able to take care of him.

It is the responsibility of the facility to meet the resident's needs and if they do not do this, the advocate will step in and make sure that they are complying with the State and Federal Guidelines. They wanted to put my Dad in their Memory Care Unit but his dementia is mild and we felt like it would do more harm than good if he were to be transferred there. He is not an easy person to get along with but they cannot just do anything they want to because they might not like him. Everything is fine now but without the advocate's help, I might have made his situation worse by listening to the facilities' recommendations. Oh, I found out later that the Administrator wanted to fill her Memory Care Unit because she would receive a big bonus from her company if this had happened. Document everything you can and don't always assume that they are making these decisions for the right reasons. I know it's hard but you have to learn to fight back and not take their word. This is a business to them and most facilities do not care about doing what is right for the resident. Thank God for the staff that really do have my Dad's best interest at heart. And these are the people that you really need to talk to find out what the problems really are.

You stay away, you walk out and force them to take responsibility. They won't discharge her in her present condition unless you take her with you.

Ask the hospital what their care plan is for mom; what do they see as her needs? I'm going to assume for the moment that she lives alone and has no one to oversee her at her home. Are they suggesting that she go to rehab? Have they suggested rehab places for her to go? Rehab should be covered by Medicare. Once she's in rehab, THAT social worker can help you apply for Medicaid. She hasn't had a BM in 11 days? Is that charted? What do the docs say about that? Are they giving her stool softners? maybe ask for a gastroenterologist consult while she's in the hospital?

Also, there is generally a Patient Advocate or Patient Relations department in a hospital. Have you been in contact with them about the quality of care your mom is receiving?

What does it say on your mother's discharge plan? Where would that hypothetical cab be taking her?

When you say "insurance" do you mean Medicare? what reason did they give for turning her down? Stick around, yes, Seniors Matter!

Hospitals get paid by the diagnosis. X bucks for a diagnosis. If they can get you to take your relative home quickly, they pocket the money they make on the diagnosis. When my mother fell and we thought she broke her hip, we took her to the ER. When they X-rayed her and it wasn't broken, their $$ went way down. They told me to take her back. She has dementia and 'knew' her hip was broken and would not move out of bed. The nurse told me to just deal with it or I'd have to pay cash for the ambulance. I asked to talk to the doctor and he just looked at me from across the ER and ignored me. I told the nurse she could deal with it herself and I walked out. They sent her back to assisted living by ambulance which is what should have happened in the first place. If they DO put your relative in a cab and send her home, sue them. Hospitals nowadays only understand money. Absolutely nothing else.

At 82, your mother should have Medicare. I would get in touch with her primary doctor. The medical problems you described should be treated in the hospital since she is in the hospital. Have tests been done to see if she had a UTI or another bladder issue? Are there heart and lung problems if she is having ongoing problems breathing? What is the cause of the white lesions in her mouth? What does the hospital offer as treatment plans for each of these conditions? Instead of being fearful of her discharge, they need to treat your mother. Once she is stabilized she can be transferred home or to a rehab for up to 120 days paid by Medicare if needed. Rather than leaving her on her own I think it is time to step up and be her vocal advocate.

The hospital did admit her, so they need to treat each condition and then work out a realistic discharge plan---putting her in a weaken condition alone in a cab isn't that plan.

Consider reporting this staff to the oversight groups for Medicare and Offices who license hospitals. I doubt if this type of treatment is limited to your mother, and God knows some seniors on their own may well be sent away before they are treated, alone in a cab.

I'm not an advocate for Hospitals but the bottom line is..it's a business with board members that make rules based on state regulations and hire people to enforce them. Insurance is going to pay based on diagnosis and DRG's not based on if she has somewhere to go. The people that are hired to enforce the length of stay based on diagnosis and DRG's are only doing their job's. I know what your thinking hospitals need to be compassionate but compassion doesn't pay bills and without revenue their will be no hospital. But to answer your question if you don't pick her up they wont put her on the street or in a taxi they will find placement for her but you might not like their choice. Families can become very wishy-washy they can't take mom home but don't like the placement choices offered. Do the best you can with the choices you have...and understand hospitals are not "out to be mean" their only doing their job...............I'm only commenting..........

Judesmom, hope things are going okay. Let us know what's going on with mom.