Should I decide to learn how to be a caregiver by taking hospital education courses?

Maybe the other sibs would pitch in and maybe they wouldn't. Many people want no part of caregiving and have lots of excuses. I'd see what the others commit to before committing your own time.

Thanks again Barb. I have Jury Duty this morning. Tomorrow morning I will be on the phone with the Social Worker in the Transplant Dept. The kids are overwhelmed and just want to fill in the blanks on the papers. I am old enough to know better! And yes I agree there has to be resources for small family units. BIL has 5 siblings my hubby being one. If this 30 day after discharge can't be left alone was happening here in our town everyone would pitch in time...I assume. But being this is happening 2 hrs away that changes things.

"Following surgery BIL has to remain within 60 miles of hospital along with 3 full time Caregivers. Son will be first Caregiver. That is where the list ends. I so want to help these kids out. But being stuck in an apartment for at least 30 days helping care for someone having had this surgery, I can't seem to wrap my head around it." 

Here's my concern for you. Is the son going to be the fulltime caregiver for 30 days, and then you will be the fulltime caregiver for 30 days? You write "at least." So is this intensive caregiving going to be needed beyond your 30 day stint? What if no one else steps up? I can see you being trapped...and this isn't even your blood relative. Are there no blood relatives available to help out?

Of course you want him on the the list! There simply must be a way for people who don't have extensive family support systems to have transplants, right?

You want to talk to the social work department about what insurance will cover (either at home or in a rehab facility) and if insurance will not, if there are scholarships or other financial resources available to fund this endeavor.

Good luck! And let us know what happens; we learn from each other.

Thanks guys. Will try to answer with what little I know. Which isn't much at this point. So say the procedure was tomorrow. BIL would then have 3 weeks in hospital following procedure. Then if all was going well he would be discharged to home. With these 24 hr caregivers.

Barb, you raise an excellent question! Why could he not transition thru a facility? I will certainly bring that up. I did ask niece why can't the required caregivers be professional hired caregivers? She said she thought the additional as needed caregivers to fill in could be. The forms they were looking at were pretty straightforward. 3 or 4 pages of requirements or a checklist that had to be completed before BIL would be put on Transplant List. They both panicked. Of course they want him on Transplant List yesterday. Niece and I will be going to Houston for a visit Thursday or Friday. I will bring up questions with someone...social worker, coordinator, etc.

Thanks Again

My friend works for a transplant organization. They actually have a facility in which you can stay, after transplant. Personally, I would contact the organization facilitating the organ transplant. I am sure they would be your best resource for what to expect, duties, where to stay, etc. 30 days will pass quickly! Hope all goes well.

If I had the time off to devote to your BIL's recovery, I would do it. It's only 30 days which will go by quickly. The patient should improve daily (God willing) as the transplant center vets the recipients for success in the evaluation process. I would imagine you'd be assisting him take his meds on time, walk a bit, take his vital signs, etc and work with his post transplant coordinator closely, probably coordinate home health, lab draw,etc.
Good luck in your decision- you have a chance to really make a difference in his life as well as his family's.

Why isn't BIL going to Cardiac Rehab?

Nephew should sit down with the social worker and ask which are the best facilities closest to the hospital and how do they arrange for dad to be admitted to them.  Will they hold a bed now?  Nephew should take this opportunity to visit several so that he can help his father make an informed choice.