Can a rehab facility require that a wife follow their careplan upon discharge?
My husband has used a walker to come to meals, but otherwise has spent the last 2 years just lying in bed. After treatment with various antidepressants to no avail, MD's have decided he has vascular dementia. He recently fell near his bed several times late at night and ended up in a rehab facility. Even there he just lay in bed except for the few hours of OT and PT each day. He is to be discharged in 2 weeks and I was told that he should go to an assisted living facility or have 24 hour care at home. He is incontinent and needs help changing and bathing, but I have cared for him safely at home for the past couple of years and want to continue doing so with a few hours (not 24 hours) in home help a day. Can anyone make us follow their care plan and hire 24 hour help before they release him?
Expert Answer
Plans of care are subjective. An assisted living facility does not provide the right care as you have described, so it should not even be an option. Adult protective services in most states require that care be administered so that a person is not being harmed, or is not harming himself. Skin breakdown is an issue with someone who is in bed so much. There are some great products that help keep skin breakdown from becoming an issue. Also, it seems that if your husband can still use a walker, he should be encouraged to get up and get more exercise. Can you find a local occupational or physical therapist who would help you plan for ways to strengthen him somewhat? The longer he stays in bed, the more his body will fail and the harder his care will become.