2024 Life Logs, Day 213: The Search for a Rehab Facility
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Weather: Sunny Day, Rainy Evening; High Temp 90, Low 70 degrees F
Location: At Home in an Airbnb in Mooresville, NC
Today was all about the search for a rehabilitation facility where my sister can go when she is released from the hospital. I have heard people talk about going to rehab for years and getting skilled nursing care there, but I truly never realized that being in a short-term rehab facility is often in the same building as a long-term nursing home. (Note to my nursing friends—Am I right about this?) I know you must be thinking, where have I been that I didn’t know this? Wherever, I now know. At least in this area, every rehab skilled nursing care rehabilitation facility is in the same building as long-term nursing care, and they are not separated. Depending on room availability you could go in for rehab but be in a wing with all long-term nursing care residents. Some of these homes have only private rooms, but some have shared rooms. Some come with television and phone service, but many have television, but you have to have a phone line installed. Some take Medicare Advantage and some do not. And unfortunately, the facility I wanted for my sister does not accept Medicare Blue (Blue Cross-Blue Shield) as it is an Advantage program. When I asked them if we could pay cash, they said they had never been asked that question before. But no, they have no private pay rooms.
Today, my crash course in local rehab facilities led me to only two choices. I visited both and then it was obvious that there was only one choice. One facility had only double rooms available and there is no way I would put my sister in that situation. So, the choice is made. Patsy will be released from the hospital tomorrow if her oxygen level normalizes and she will go to a place called Autumn Care. If the oxygen level does not normalize, she will be in the hospital until it does or until they identify the cause. I know her oxygen level was normal all day yesterday prior to the surgery because I watched the monitor all day long.
Tonight, I had a nice diversion. Patsy’s son-in-law came to be with her at dinner time and my nephew Tommy and friends Brian and Judy Thompson invited me out to dinner. I had Mediterranean Red Snapper and it was absolutely delicious. Afterwards, it was back to the hospital for a couple of hours of breathing exercises that the nurse asked me do with Patsy before I left for the night. What I discovered is that she can exhale just fine, but she inhales very lightly.
My goal is to get Patsy settled in rehab as soon as possible, hire the extra help that is going to be needed, and then fly home on Sunday. I would then return when she transitions from rehab back to Terra Bella. But that is just my goal. Who knows what will happen tomorrow to adjust that goal?
