Diagnosed after fall broke leg and hospitalization while in rehab for leg. On Medicaid and I feel NH doesn’t want her for that reason. Wondering how or if I can care for her. Based on interactions with mom I feel 24/7 care will be issue. She wanders, hallucinates, and needs walker but tends to forget to use. Needs help bathing can’t prepare food but can eat on her own.
You need to sit face to face with the discharge planner and ask the pointed questions. Like, why are they not moving her to a LTC bed from her rehabilitation bed?
Did your mom get qualified for long term care Medicaid or is it community medicaid? They are 2 different coverages and she needs to be accepted for LTC for it to pay for a LTC facility.
Best of luck getting her the care she needs.
Talk to a Social Worker and tell them you feel she is now 24/7 care and discharging her to home is an "unsafe" discharge. There is no one who can care for her she needs Longterm care. If this Rehab does not have LTC, IMO, the SW may help you find a place but don't count on it.
If you mother is diagnosed with dementia they cannot kick her into the streets.
You already suspect you cannot take on 24/7 care of a woman who now requires several shifts of several workers each shift to care for her.
Simply tell the NH that discharge is out of the question. Use the word "Any attempt to put a woman diagnosed with dementia out into the streets would amount to an unsafe discharge (exactly those two words) and would result in your NH losing it's license (exactly those three words)."
Good luck. Do update us.
If they say she's "medically stable", you can counter that stable for acute care isn't the same as being safe at home with dementia. There are a lot of challenges that are not addressed by simply being "medically stable".
Also, ask for their written discharge plan and appeal rights. You have a legal ability to challenge a nursing home's discharge decision, allowing you to object and often keep your mom in the facility while the appeal is reviewed. This can buy you some time and proper documentation if the discharge is unsafe.
I agree with the previous comment, but I would just like to add that it's worth asking about their specific recommendations for skilled nursing versus memory care. What's the difference in their eyes for your mom's particular situation, and how would the fact that she's on Medicaid affect where she can go?
Sometimes, facilities are hesitant about Medicaid patients, and it's important to understand if that's influencing their decision.
If they claim no Medicaid beds are available, ask about waitlists or if there are any temporary solutions.
Keep advocating for what you feel is safest, and don't be afraid to ask questions. I hope you sort it out and solve the problem.