Just when you think it's settled...
By Mike on Monday 28 April 2008, 22:22 - Journal - Permalink
The nursing home called today to talk about a 'problem' they are having with
dad.
He's walking again. In fact, he's walking into many other resident's rooms, and this is not really on. This development is significant enough for the staff there to think that dad doesn't belong in a nursing home, so tomorrow he is going to be transferred to the room that was being kept for him anyway - in the complex next door to mum's. An excellent problem to have. Greg and I shall move a few items of furniture back in now.
Of course, there are ramifications. First, this means yet another disorienting move for the poor old bloke, but it may be better to do this now, rather than wait until he is settled.
Then there are the financial considerations. We thought we might escape the $350,000 bond by having dad in the nursing home, paying only $250,000. Now he is going back to the other room, we have no way of avoiding the higher payment - or so we thought. Greg queried it today, and was told that it was $350,000, always had been and no two ways about it. He didn't plead or try any of that stuff, but simply said that we had made a mistake and that all our calculations were now invalid. We had created a problem for ourselves, in other words. It was then that the village manager said that she could offer a different arrangement, under which instead of paying a $32 daily charge for care, we could pay $51 and avoid having to put up the bond altogether. We accepted this offer today.
And finally, there is the question of medication. The troubles dad has had with eating, walking and talking all seem to stem from the Zyprexa, a strong anti-psychotic drug. Since coming off Zyprex his improvement has been substantial, but not linear. The subsequent introduction of Haliperidol may have clouded the issue, delayed the improvement or, since it is administered only on an 'as needed' basis, made the improvement discontinuous. We shall ask for it to be stopped
Dad probably never should have been assessed as a high-care patient, but we suspect that this status may have been instrumental in the new financial offer that was made to us today. It may not be worth questioning this. It may all change tomorrow.
He's walking again. In fact, he's walking into many other resident's rooms, and this is not really on. This development is significant enough for the staff there to think that dad doesn't belong in a nursing home, so tomorrow he is going to be transferred to the room that was being kept for him anyway - in the complex next door to mum's. An excellent problem to have. Greg and I shall move a few items of furniture back in now.
Of course, there are ramifications. First, this means yet another disorienting move for the poor old bloke, but it may be better to do this now, rather than wait until he is settled.
Then there are the financial considerations. We thought we might escape the $350,000 bond by having dad in the nursing home, paying only $250,000. Now he is going back to the other room, we have no way of avoiding the higher payment - or so we thought. Greg queried it today, and was told that it was $350,000, always had been and no two ways about it. He didn't plead or try any of that stuff, but simply said that we had made a mistake and that all our calculations were now invalid. We had created a problem for ourselves, in other words. It was then that the village manager said that she could offer a different arrangement, under which instead of paying a $32 daily charge for care, we could pay $51 and avoid having to put up the bond altogether. We accepted this offer today.
And finally, there is the question of medication. The troubles dad has had with eating, walking and talking all seem to stem from the Zyprexa, a strong anti-psychotic drug. Since coming off Zyprex his improvement has been substantial, but not linear. The subsequent introduction of Haliperidol may have clouded the issue, delayed the improvement or, since it is administered only on an 'as needed' basis, made the improvement discontinuous. We shall ask for it to be stopped
Dad probably never should have been assessed as a high-care patient, but we suspect that this status may have been instrumental in the new financial offer that was made to us today. It may not be worth questioning this. It may all change tomorrow.
Comments
You might find you quit using the expression, "Things couldn't get any worse."
Hi Mike
I can't understand the fact that your Dad is wandering into other resident's rooms means that he is not supposed to be in a nursing home. My mum was walking alot when she first went into the nursing home - matter of fact they nicknamed her Goldilocks because they would find her sleeping in somebody elses bed very often(alone thank God). It seems to me that it depends on the state of confusion and also being incontinent makes them high-level. I don't know what aged care home your parents are in, but the fees seem very high. My understanding was that the nursing homes fees are basically the aged pension and if one of the family is living in the family home, they don't touch that. Maybe you need to find out a little more about what your parents are entitled to. I know our case is different because my dad is still at home but it might have been worthwhile for one of the children to move into the family home.