My mother has severe arthritis in her hip and is no longer able to transfer from bed to wheelchair. Because of advanced dementia she does not qualify for physical therapy. I have to find a new home for her that will support a bedbound resident with advanced memory loss and incontinence. She does not qualify for skilled nursing or rehabilitation, so she will be living in a private pay assisted living residence. Insurance does not cover her situation. Does anyone have experience with this type of situation and what are some of the things I should look for in finding a new home specifically for a bedbound resident and what expectations should I have for her ongoing care?
Here is an informative article from this forum:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/medicaid-and-long-term-care-133719.htm
Do feel free to call facilities in your area, however, because there is a good deal of variety out there.
When my dad was in skilled nursing, he had a neighbor that was bedridden from a fall that broke her neck, she moved to the AL wing and paid 3k for the room and 4k for the care provided, which was the highest level of care. She was completely bedridden and could not do anything for herself.
I think continuing care facilities offer different services then a free standing AL.
Best of luck finding the best facility for her needs.
Mom's place had one man in particular who had a raised, reclining wheelchair that looked almost like an ambulance gurney that could be raised at the head and knees. (Kind of like this, but the legs could be straighter than this one -- https://www.spinlife.com/Karman-Healthcare-Lightweight-Tilt-in-Space-VIP-515-Recliner-and-Tilt/spec.cfm?productID=95424&adv=googlepla&utm_medium=CSE&utm_source=googlepla&utm_term=&utm_campaign=610148043&gclid=CjwKCAjwp7eUBhBeEiwAZbHwkecIrZLwUiZXtdPKnv6HNX5lKq9tZgYeyR0XvaF9PTU8YjA4VaUtPRoCiwUQAvD_BwE )
The caregivers had him out in the common room all the time, and I assume they used a Hoyer lift to transfer him from chair to bed.
I get that there is a reluctance to disrupt the person needing care and move them to a different home, but once bed bound they likely will need to move to a different part of the facility anyway, and in my opinion once your word shrinks to four walls the setting hardly makes any difference. You may be counting on familiar staff, but even that isn't a guarantee because of high turnover, plus many employees of an AL work there rather than at a NH because they don't need to provide that level of care.
My mother's MC offered great care options for all residents, but you'd have to speak to the facility administrator directly about what services they provide before you sign on the dotted line. Remember, too, that with advanced dementia at play, there is only SO much stimulation/activity that CAN be offered to your mother in any given day! With the mobility restrictions added in, that would limit her as far as scenic drives on the mini bus too, unless she could be put into a wheelchair and loaded onto the bus that way, which would be another good question for you to pose.
Best of luck!
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