My husband is a 100% Totally Disabled Vietnam Veteran - 100% Military Related!
Came home about 4 weeks ago from Hospice Hospital (Admitted with Renal Failure - kidneys started back functioning - had only 40% kidney function prior). He has Dementia and other numerous major illnesses. None of the VA Participating Nursing Homes in my area will accept him as a patient. He is totally bed confined. VA doesn’t make exceptions to use other NH’s (I’m totally disabled, not able to reposition him in bed and some other needed care ) Already used his Medicare’s Hospital & Nursing Home Days allowed.
(VA did offer VA Nursing Home over 1 1/2 hours away ). Couldn’t have him that far away, also I’m unable to travel that far daily, (VA gives me 3 hrs daily home care - Hospice nurse comes on Monday to access him) I’m paying for 11 hours CNA in home care daily: 10:am - 2:pm & 7:pm - 2:am daily - 7 days a week. It’s taking over half our income to pay for necessary home care needs. He needs more home care and we can’t afford to pay for more hours.
(I was paying same CNA’s while he was in Nursing Homes’ and Hospice Hospital )
- I was staying with him the first 2 months 24/7 except to go home and shower most days - (After I found him laying in his own feces ~ would only give bed baths 2 - 3 times a week ~ wasn’t providing food he could eat ~ ( lost 60 lbs ) ~ fell out of bed 2 x’s that I know of ~ he had to have repeat Spinal Surgery ~ discovered after NH Dr. over does him with morphine ~ after 3 days, I had him transferred back to the hospital ~ after 3 more days when the morphine wore off and he was screaming worse than his was after 1st back surgery, MRI showed he now had a cracked vertebra, screw broken in half and all hardware was out of position ~ had a DVT ( which my daughter discovered ) ~ tried to remove his mid line to other arm ~ wouldn’t come out, said it was stuck in DVT - wanted him transferred to the hospital, told me to give the blood thinner time to work and would try again in 3 days ~ wouldn’t come out. ~. wasn’t in DVT ~ had migrated into heart ~ had pneumonia and UTI ~ transferred to hospital ~ went into Renal Failure ~ transferred to Hospice Hospital... -> That’s just a few of the problems he has gone through since he was admitted to the Hospital on 08/18/18 originally <- Now at home, discharged from Hospice Hospital. Sorry so long, just needed someone to what I have gone thru and how stressed my life has become!
Have you applied for Aide & Attendance benefit from the VA? That is a option that may provide some outside caregiver hours (but not FT) to help you.
The things I’ve seen and lived through with these Nursing Homes. I understand why most CareGivers’ would choose having their love one at home. I’m disabled and I can’t even turn him in his bed. I have approximately 11 hours when I have no CNA. Also I was told by my case worker and she says their is no more.
Thanks for your advise.
If your husband is on hospice (I am sorry he is so unwell) it means that your solution only needs to be short, not long, term. Do you think this could work? That way he has 24/7 care and you can still see him several hours a day and make unannounced visits.
My Father and my many Uncles ( 7+) that served in military during war time live in Florida and any VA hospital is at least 2 hours from them, they have to drive that far to just see a VA doctor, so only driving 1.5 hours for a nursing home that would take care of them if needed would be a blessing. But that doesn't make it any easier for you on a day-to-day basis, I know.