Care

DO I HAVE TO TAKE OFF WORK TO BRING MOM IN FOR NEEDED SERVICES?

This is a common question health care professionals receive and a common dilemma for family caregivers. More often than not, the answer to that question is no. However, not everyone is aware of their options—a personal family story highlights this occurrence.

Margaret was my grandma. She sadly passed away a few years ago after living a full life dedicated to her family. When she was alive, she lived in an assisted living facility. She was very happy there and participated in all offered activities. Cards and Bingo were her favorite and she won almost every time. She was essentially wheelchair-bound due to arthritis, but she never missed an opportunity to socialize. One of her favorite things to do was head down to the local muni for a beverage, conversation, and maybe a pull-tab or two on the weekend.

On one occasion, my grandmother ended up in the hospital for a few days due to a urinary tract infection (UTI). This left her weak and she was having increased difficulty transferring from her wheelchair and also completing normal activities of daily living (ADLs).

Upon her return to her assisted living, it was recommended that she receive some ongoing physical and occupational therapy. This order was first sent to an outpatient provider. My mother was concerned about taking time off work to bring her to these appointments.

Luckily, with my work experience, I knew this was not necessary. Clearly, my grandmother was homebound; it was definitely a taxing effort for her to leave. In fact, she could not leave without assistance. I informed the building nurse, as well as her primary physician, that we would like an order for home health services.

We were able to get the stamp of approval from her primary care provider who agreed that Margaret was homebound, at least temporarily.

This worked out beautifully! Not only did my mother not have to take off work, my grandmother also got company; which she loved. After about six weeks of therapy, Margaret was strong enough for her weekend outing.

*For more information about meeting thehomebound criteria under Medicare, see the article in the Summer Mankato Clinic Thrives edition. https://issuu.com/luxequarterlies ■

KELLY SIMMONS ADARA HOME HEALTH

To learn more, visit adarahomehealth.com