Now I called up the one place (it’s Kessler, in NJ) and they said she’d get 3 hours of treatment in one and a half hour chunks. So that’s possible, but even that could be overwhelming.
Therapy should be paced to the individual. Geriatric PTs have lots of experience in modifying exercises, assessing status and using what they learn about a patient as they go. A quality place can make a difference, particularly when there are the consequences of a stroke to stir into the rehab plan. A good rehab place will also collaborate with patient and family from early on to anticipate discharge needs and develop an appropriate plan. Staying in the loop will help the family avoid surprises.
All the best to your mother, CF. Sorry for the stress.
Kessler is renown, didn’t Christopher Reeve go there for rehab?
Yes, Kessler has a very good reputation.
I’m certain that Kessler is good. What I’m wondering is whether they’d be right for my mom. I called them up, and the person I talked to, who was helpful and nice, said that they’d be doing 3 hours of therapy a day. She and I agreed that Kessler was not out of the question, but it’s not also not clear whether Kessler would be the best for my mom. I’m afraid Mom isn’t strong enough for three hours of therapy.
It’s the usual story we all confront with our aging parents: when does treatment become too aggressive?
FIL had a stroke in October that affected his left side. His first rehab stay was considered “Acute Rehab” because they did 3+ hours of therapy a day. It was distributed throughout the day in 30 minute intervals. He thrived! At the end of 2 weeks he was moving around better than he had been before the stroke. (By the way, he got to the hospital within an hour of the stroke, which may have helped.) Once he could walk 150 feet (with a walker and supervision) and meet a couple of other milestones, he had to step down to the next level of rehab.
That’s where we went wrong - we let him go home, and enroll in a rehab program that picked him up in the morning and dropped him off in the afternoon. Not that we had much choice. Once he knew that was an option he would not consider any other. In any case, he has been on a downhill slide ever since.
Good luck. There is no clear roadmap, but if her thinking is relatively clear and she can see how dedicating herself to rehab will help her to regain her independence you may be able to find that path.
I suspect they will evaluate her first for the nature of the therapy. Did the docs specify anything yet? Or are they watching her the first few days/week? (Is she still in the hospital?) Sorry your Mom is going through this.
And good wishes to eyemamom, too.
She’s still in the hospital. The hospital staff have been talking to my sister about where she might go from there. They mentioned Kessler, and they also mentioned having her return to her continuing care place to get therapy there. I’m trying to gather more information to help in making the decision.
When we were looking at the place for FIL to go after acute care, we were told that the rehab wings of nursing homes, that treat either current AL/NH residents that have rehab needs or new patients, could only provide rehab for less than 3 hours/day, most would do 1.5 hours. Only the acute rehab places could do over 3 hours, and Medicare would only pay for that until the patient reached certain milestones. Yes, every elder care decision has to get processed through the “what will Medicare pay for” filter.
Anyway, I think the acute rehab, high attention, high touch care really worked wonders. If she qualifies, it’s probably worth a try. You can always step down if it proves to be too much for her.
Just want to add some things to consider-
Take the highest level recommended, if Mom is too weak/tired therapists can try later.
Also consider whether Mom would do recommended exercises on her own.
My 90 y/o MIL had a non-displaced pelvic fracture in October. The rehab PTs helped her with transferring out of bed to chair, to using walker, etc.twice a day but recommended strengthening exercises she could do in the bed. She did those several time a day. Never needed PT visits after returning to her IL apt at CCC and stopped using the walker around Thanksgiving.
Cardinal Fang, I’m so sorry. What does your mother say?
My mom died today. After her surgery Monday things were actually looking good, she even got moved to a regular room on Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon her heart rate and blood pressure dropped and they had to intubate her, then give her dialysis. They said we’d know in 24 hours. The next morning her liver numbers went sky high and there was nothing to do. Plus mom did not want intervention like that. All 4 kids, her sister, some spouses and grandkids were all there. I held her hand and talked to her the whole way through. Once they removed the tubes it was very quick. My husband drove 5 hours to come get me so I could come home. I just want to see my kids before the funeral. We already know it will be next Saturday so all the grandkids can come. While I understand her age and condition it’s still shocking and sad. I hope she didn’t suffer and felt all the love in that crowded room for her. We even had the doctors and nurses crying with us. The staff was amazing and caring. Sigh…this took up so much I hardly know what comes next without her. I now have lost both parents. I get I’m rambling I was just telling hubby is know I’m 49 but I feel too young to not have parents anymore. My prayer is that dad was waiting for her on the other side both young and healthy. She never got over his death 7 years ago.
So sorry eyemamom.
eyemamom, So so sorry for your loss. Sending energy and sympathy
I’m very sorry, eyemamom.
Eyemamom, I’m very sorry for your loss. I lost my mom unexpectedly almost 3 years ago. My dad had died about 5 years before that. I know the exact feeling you are talking about, like a middle-aged orphan. I have 2 younger brothers, and I have assumed the role of matriarch, not a role I feel I was cut out for, but it’s all part of the circle of life.
{Hugs}
I am very sorry, eyemamom.
Eyemamom, I am so, so sorry. May her memory be a blessing to you and your family at this very difficult time. I am sure that she had an awareness of how many of her nearest and dearest were there to say goodbye. Take good care of yourself! (((((Hugs!)))))
eyeamom- I am sorry for the lose of your mother. How good that you were there with family around her and that you knew what her wishes would be. She was very fortunate to have your support through it all. I get the wish for time with your kids. It will be good for everyone.
Take care of yourself and let others do the same for you.
Wow, just wow, this is very sad news.Condolences to you, eyemamon, and your loving family,