My mom was admitted to a senior care center after 10 days in the hospital. Can I, or she, refuse to go home if we feel she needs more care?

She was in the hospital for 10 days, which by today's standards is a very long hospitalization. What was she in for originally? Did she improve markedly while there? What was her diagnosis and prognosis on discharge?
She is not in rehab? And she was independent heretofore? What do you mean by Senior Care Center. Are you talking about a SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility). She will have a certain amount of medicare time and coverage, which you should as the social worker at the facility about; she or he can give you the numbers. Then she will need permanent placement, home, or "self pay" which is unlikely anyone could afford. Speak with the Social Worker now. They are saying albumin levels? Does she have kidney disease? Congestive Heart Failure? Do you know? Are you her health care POA? Coordinate with the doctors if so, to find out what is wrong.

I'd like to just address the edema: did they have her on antibiotics recently? When my mother was put on clindamycin after oral surgery, both her feet and ankles swelled up a lot. After her docs checked her very thoroughly and cleared her of any of the obvious causes, the doc finally said it was probably the side-effect of the antibiotic. It did go away on its own, finally and has not reoccurred. Movement might clear it up faster for your mom. I'm not saying this is what is going on with your mom, but can be considered if they don't find an immediate cause.

Discharge may be dictated by her medical insurance. Others on the forum will give more info regarding that. Blessings!