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My dad has leukemia and has been in and out of the hospital since he was first diagnosed a few years ago. After he was diagnosed, he was in the hospital for a month and came to live with me for about 2 years. He went back home earlier this year, so, my sister and I would prep meals for him that he could heat up. He would tell us that he was eating and when we would go back to the house, all the food would still be in the fridge.
Several weeks ago, we went to check on him and he was in the bed. Upon talking to him, he clearly needed to go to the hospital because he was disoriented. He ended up having a infection and needed rehab in order to gain his strength. His platelets were low, so they said he would recover better at home instead of going to a rehab hospital. Then, they told us that he would need 24 hour care. We both work and are unable to care for him like that. I addition, we are taking care of our mother who had a a stroke earlier this year and she is in the recovery process and has one side paralysis.
It is just my sister and I as the caregivers and it is really taking a toll on us. Any suggestions or ideas for getting 24 hour car would be greatly appreciated.

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If he is still in the hospital then the hospital social worker can help you get home care started as well as figure out how it will be paid for. Does your dad have the money to pay for 24/7 caregivers? He’ll probably need 2-3 caregivers at least.
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Shaelyn2019 Nov 2019
No, he is not financially able to pay for care and I am so stressed out and at my wits end because I have no clue as to what to do and who to turn to. My sister and I both have to work and we aren’t able to care for him around the clock either.
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Are your parents still married? If so, it may give them both a lift to see each other.

Normally I'd BLAST the hospital social worker because they seem to be spring loaded to send an elderly patient home instead of to rehab, but in this case, they are probably right. The fewer people he is around and a likely cleaner environment in your home or your sister's will lessen his chances of infection since his immune system is so compromised.
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Shaelyn2019 Nov 2019
My parents are divorced, so that is not an option.

They just informed us yesterday afternoon that they couldn’t take him at rehab since his counts were too low.

My sister and I are doing the best we can because we alternate with taking care of our parents, but we can’t do this 24 hours a day.
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Explain the situation to social worker. It may be that there is simply NO CHOICE but to go to a NH. Is he a veteran? If so, VA benefits may be available to him.
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Shaelyn2019 Nov 2019
He is not a veteran and we tried to apply for Medicaid and he doesn’t qualify as they said he makes too much.
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"His platelets were low, so they said he would recover better at home instead of going to a rehab hospital. Then, they told us that he would need 24 hour care."

When you were told this, did you explain that there is no one to provide that care and no money to pay for outside caregivers?

He belongs in a long term care setting. Call the hospital social worker and arrange for him to go to rehab. From there, he becomes a long term care patient. Ask for the rehab/nursing home's help in applying for Medicaid.
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Shaelyn2019 Nov 2019
They told us yesterday and we informed them that there is not anyone available to take care of him 24 hours a day.

He is still getting treatment for cancer and had chemo earlier this week and has to go back to the hospital several days next week.

The social worker at the hospital said here is a list of companies that you can choose from and most of them are self pay and do not accept Medicare.
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Agree with Barb. He needs to be in long term care at a skilled nursing facility. Make sure the hospital social worker knows he cannot come home. It’s not safe and there is no one to take care of him. Refuse to bring him home. The social worker, as I said earlier, can also help start the process of applying for Medicaid or VA benefits if dad is a veteran.
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Shaelyn, does someone have Power of Attorney for dad?

You need to visit a certified eldercare attorney and fond out how to get him qualified for Medicaid, either by setting up a qualified income trust or by spending down his money (by paying for care).
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Is this the hospital social worker? Ask for her supervisor. If no satisfaction there, call the hospital patient advocate department.

The big question, is he eligible for rehab. Rehab, after a 3 day hospital stay, should be covered by Medicare.
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You cannot allow the hospital to release him to you if you cannot take care of him. They know he needs 24 hour care, you cannot provide that. It is unsafe for him at home! DO NOT TAKE HIM HOME! The hospital needs to send him to a Nursing Facility. As far as long term care Medicaid, he WILL qualify with the right people doing the paperwork for him. See an elder care lawyer if necessary.
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This is a terrible situation (as I'm sure you know)! I do have one possible solution. When my sister was very sick, and hospitalized for so long that she became immobile and needed rehab, she was sent to an LTC facility that had a sort of "seclusion" unit way in the back of the building away from other patients. She had a small private room and it was always "gloves and gowns" when we went to visit her. She was not brought into the common areas at all. I can't believe that my sister's facility is the only one that has such a unit. Maybe ask the social worker about that. Yes, they still tried to release her to home, but her husband held firm and insisted that he could not take care of her at home until she was at least able to stand up. He couldn't do the 24/7 care, even with the help of myself and my other local sister.
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