My mother is 91 and had been doing OK in spite of having lung cancer, on oxygen 24/7, and non ambulatory (wheelchair). She was hospitalized twice recently with a UTI. She was disoriented during both hospitalizations however this time it seems to be lingering. My brother lives with her but doesn't recognize her needs. She is alone during the day when he is at work. We have no one in the family local that can be with her during the day. Are there services that would send someone for a few hours a day to make sure she is safe?
If your mom has original Medicare insurance, she would probably qualify for homebound care through Part B.
Has she ever been in the hospital and then had home health after she came home? It’s a benefit for homebound who need nursing care but less than 24/7.
This is not a lot of care but it enables many to stay home a little longer If that is what she and your brother want.
Basically a nurse comes once a week to check her vitals, set up her pill planner and check in on her. The nurse will call in her prescriptions and check her out for rashes or bruises or skin damage. If she needs some therapy the nurse can set that up. She can Also order a CNA to help her bathe a couple of times a week, give her a shampoo, change her bed linens and visit with her a bit. They will do UTI tests at home and blood work so life is easier for brother if he is the one taking her for appointments.
‘It requires a doctors order but the home health agency will usually take care of that.
You can also order Meals on Wheels which provides a wellness check.
My DH aunt had these services. If it lasts for three months or three years it is an interim step between where she is now and where she may need to be in the future as her health declines.
First step would be to make sure she has an assigned DPoA who will help her manage her affairs. Next would be to get her assessed for cognition/memory so that her DPoA knows exactly what level of competancy they're dealing with. Then consider visiting some facilities (and if it's too difficult to get her there then you go and take video and bring it back to show her). Sometimes people her age have old-time memories of really awful nursing homes. Newer ones are not like that at all anymore.
Finally, meet with an elder law/estate planner and/or Medicaid Planner for her state. This is very important even if she only has humble financial means. She and her DPoA needs to plan for and protect her ability to qualify for Medicaid, in the very likely instance she needs it to cover the cost of her facility and care. It is very easy for one's financial PoA to inadvertently "mismanage" their assets in such away as to delay or disqualify their LO. Many states' Medicaid programs have a 5-year look-back period on the application. Meeting with a legal professional now is well worth the money.
The place to start is with the local Area Agency on Aging in your mother's county. They can do a "needs assessment" and advise on what services are available locally and what she is eligible for, based on income.
You can talk to her doctor about ordering in home health care (a bath aide, light housekeeping and the like).
If your mom goes into the hospital (and is admitted for three nights) you need to be in touch with discharge planning to discuss whether she is able to live at home any longer with the support she has in place there.