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My Grandma has been in a lot more pain than normal, and the doctors just keep raising her pain meds. She has a queen size bed and a lounge chair in her bedroom, but she can't sit up longer than 10 minutes. Yesterday we were at the hospital, and she was so much more comfortable in the hospital beds, and she didn't even need her pain meds. She took 1 around 3 hours before we got there, but she didn't need another one until this morning. That has never happened. This morning her pain returned. We mentioned it to the ER doctor, and she said that a home hospital bed would be good for her. That way we can adjust her so she doesn't get bed sores, make it easier to feed her, and wash her when I give her a sponge bath, she can sit up, it will be easier to get her in and out of bed, it's a lot easier on her body than her current bed, and we can actually get to her. Her current bed takes up over half of the room. So we have to get onto the bed in order to do anything, and it usually takes 2 people for a simple task. If we can get the prescription for it from her PCP, will Medicare pay or at least help pay for it?

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I just Googled " Medicare and durable medical equipment ". It appears that Medicare Part B covers Hospital beds. The doctor who writes the script must be an enrolled Medicare doctor.

You mention beds sores? There are special mattresses that continuously inflate and deflate to prevent beds sores. Ask about that when you inquire about the bed.
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Kay, has your grandma ever had a " needs assessment"?

I don't know what your circumstances are but I know that sometimes we get thrown into caregiving with little preparation and no means of guidance. Perhaps calling your local Area Agency on Aging and asking for grandma's needs to be assessed professionally would produce some good suggestions and resources for you.

When a medical professional makes a suggestion like a hospital bed, remember to ask " how would I get that?"
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Thank you, and I'll definitely look into those. We are a little unprepared, just because of how quickly she went downhill. November she was starting to decline but she was eating 3 sometimes 4 full meals a day, sleeping 8-10 hours, getting up and walking, she could clean, play games and so on. Start of January she just went downhill so quickly. Now she's hardly eating or drinking, we have to hand feed her, she can't walk without support, sleeping 20+ hours a day, her dementia has gotten severe, and all that fun stuff. We've gone to the doctor multiple times, and she's been monitoring her. It's like she just gave up, and now we're trying to catch up to her.
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Kay, I'm so sorry sorry that her decline has been so steep. Have you discussed hospice care with anyone?
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Medicare paid for my moms hospital bed and it was a lot of help. Rehab dr wrote the script. When you speak with the medical supply ask them what accessories you should ask the dr for. They are usually pretty well versed on what Medicare will pay for and will usually fax info to the dr for dr approval. The bed is actually a rental that meducare pays on each month. It your mom keeps it for a set time. I think it's 24 months. Then she owns it. During this time the medical supply will service it should you need them to. The first bed we ordered we didn't like. We returned it for another. We exchanged the mattress ( gel) once also. They aren't as nice as hospital beds but they are adjustable and you can raise them and lower them and there are the bars on both sides which are helpful. Ask for a new bed if they have one.
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