Do you know how expensive rehab care is?

1214mom
Sat, 06 Apr 2013 08:13:27 +0000

This thread is as much a vent as a request for guidance.
My mother fell down stairs and seriously fractured her hip. She had a plate and pins put in, and was sent to a rehab/nursing home facility. I live in another state, so have not been involved in any discussions with doctors or the facility. They told her up front that she would need to stay there for 2 - 3 months. Her sister has been helping with this. They called her sister the day before yesterday and told her she needed to get her out of the facility by Monday. Then, yesterday another person called, and said she didn’t need to leave, and actually needed to stay, but the cost after Monday would be 350 per day. She cannot put any weight on the leg now, but Apparently once she can put weight on the leg the cost will go down, maybe to 50 a day. (I can’t remember the number she said…I’m still stuck on the 350). The facility says my mother will LIKELY qualify for Medicaid, but they won’t know for sure for a month. (while she’s running up 350 a day charges that may or may not have to be paid at some point). My big gripe is this…if they knew she was likely going to need to stay there 2 - 3 months, why didn’t they start this paperwork when se arrived, or very soon after, instead of waiting so long…
This is my rude awakening and welcome to “elder care,” I guess. I certainly understand how people wind up in financial ruin pretty quickly. I think I’m going to look really hard at long-term care insurance.