Issues Unique To Short-Term Patients
What
To Expect From Therapy
What To Expect At Discharge
Making The Transition From
Short- To Long-Term Care
How long will my wife be in therapy? How soon before we
see some improvement? Are you sure she'll improve enough to go
home?
The person who can best answer these and other questions
pertaining to your wife's stay in the short-term care unit of
the nursing facility is the social worker assigned to her
case. Although much depends on the progress your wife makes in
the days ahead, many of your questions will facility on "hows"
and "whys" that come up all the time. Social workers
are trained to handle both the issues that arise during your
relative's stay at the nursing facility, and the ramifications
of her return home.
What happens when Grandma's discharged?
Just as your grandmothers progress is monitored
continually, so, too, is her potential for discharge.
The social worker will keep your grandmother informed as to
when she's likely to be released, and will also inform you and
other family representatives of what that will entail
Once her physician can estimate a release date, the nursing
facility staff will get with your grandmother to plan her
discharge. Some facilities even have discharge planning teams
to smooth the transition back home.
When we take Dad home, who is responsible for arranging
for home health care and medical equipment?
The social worker assigned to your father will discuss with
him his upcoming discharge. In cooperation with the
nursing facility staff, she will schedule any in-home therapy
that is prescribed, as well as make arrangements for any
medical equipment your father may require.
Dad is really depressed. How can I help him realize that
he's only here for a little while?
If you're certain he will be returning home soon, motivate
your father-in-law by linking his achievements with going
home. For example, praise the 30 steps he takes without his
cane as a major step toward his total rehabilitation.
Mom seems so unsteady. Is she really ready for home?
Your mother's physician will not release her until he feels
she's ready. That does not mean that further therapy is not in
order, or that she'll feel up to snuff as soon as she gets
back home. It does mean, however, that based on a careful
assessment of your mother's condition and on the progress she
has made since her admission, he feels she will make better
progress at home.
Can we bring my mother back if we discover after
discharge that we just can't take care of her at home?
Every state has different admissions requirements. Contact
the administrator of the nursing facility to see whether your
mother's situation meets the criteria. You might also contact
her primary physician, since a recommendation from a doctor is
a prerequisite for admission.
If my aunt never recovers sufficiently to go home, will
we eventually have to move her somewhere else or can we just
switch her from short- to long-term care?
Your aunt's medical condition will determine whether she
qualifies for admission to the long-term care section of the
nursing facility. While her health has been monitored since
the moment of her admission by her attending physician, her
social worker, and the nursing facility's staff, any of the
three should be able to discuss your aunt's options with her.
