Should I send Mom to rehab?

I agree fully with JoAnn.

My best experience with rehab has been either in home or out patient. Don't get me started on rehab in a NH.

At home Medicare will pay for PT, OT, 24 hr nurse on call and bath aid.
That's fine as long as some one can fix food and you are able to take care of your own bathroom needs.
NH you are treated just like one of the residents especially if you fit into the geriatric category and it is assumed your mind has also gone along with your body.
The food naturally is not good but you can have stuff brought in.
Requests to have your meds crushed and syringed through your feeding tube result in being handed a gritty mess of apple sauce. "Oh dear did I leave some bones in" as I coughed my way out of aspiration. "No your wound does not stink it's not draining, it's healing up nicely"

All I can say is look very carefully at any rehab facility you plan to place your loved one in. Seeing residents asleep in their wheelchairs in the front hall is a definite turn off. Don't expect to see a Dr very often. My initial experience was the Dr comming into the room, announcing his name and shaking my had. That was his examination and I never saw him again.
Once I rattled a few cages I did get the rehab hours that were prescribed.

Have you had her assessed by a assisted living community? Pick one and have an assessment done. She may qualify to go in at a high level of care. She can rehab there and get some independence back with the goal of reducing the level of care. Make sure you outline that as the plan so that you, mom, and the AL are on the same page. Sometimes, residents get used to beck-and-call care and don't want to give it up, even when they're capable of doing most of their own ADLs. And you'll want the Nursing Director to understand that gaining back some independence is

The environment at an AL is almost always a more engaged lifestyle than a SNF. If the first AL that assesses her says no, try another. They make their judgements based upon staffing and their own internal policies. You may get a different answer at another community.

My mother is 89, and we went through similar decision. She went to Rehab facility when she was around your mother's age. It was hell for about two months, but she fully recovered (physically.)
I would like to pass on a piece of advice that has helped me through decisions like yours. A friend told me, "You don't have to make a decision for what is best for the rest of her life. You just have to make the decision of what is best for right now." I hope this helps.

Where I live rehab usually follows a stay in the hospital. Doctors can order therapy at home. But if you can do it and Medicare will pay then it may help. Be aware Medicare only pays 100% the first 20 days, 50% the 21 to 100 days. Supplimental may pick up difference but my Mom still paid $150 a day. After 100 days your private pay. Rehabs can be depressing if attached to a NH which they are here. The NH residents are allowed to wander. The one Mom was in did nothing for the residents by way of activities. The NH she eventually was placed, had a great rehab attached. There was something going on all afternoon to keep residents busy. Remember, therapy is only done a couple of times a day. The rest of the time Mom will be sitting around. So go see the rehab before you place her.

The one thing you will find out is how far along Mom is. Will she plateau early? Meaning there is nothing they can do. That will help make the decision where to place her. Hopefully you will find that living with Dad there is no stimuli and she will, do better in an AL.

I agree with cwillie. It makes sense to give rehab a try and see if she can regain more independence, It could enhance her QOL.

I vote for rehab - it isn't like a prison sentence, if the facility is sub par or actually harmful you always have the option of changing your mind, and if it helps her recover even a little of her former abilities it will be well worth it.