Posted on 12/09/2024 6:45:51 PM PST by daniel1212
I have known of this cycle for about 20 years. MA health provides a motorized WC, which he is eager to get out with - if/when he can. PCA pay is about $20 an hour, with 3 shifts needed, but only pays for 2 hours for overnight shift, under the premise that the PCA only actually works for about that time (try that with guards).
He is presently in a nursing home, which one cannot leave from, and sometimes he is not turned as often as is needed for his wounds to heal. He cannot even turn over at night. So sometimes he calls me to call the NH and tell them to turn him. Once the wound doc. says his wounds are healed then he can go home - when and if his 3 shifts are filled. Both of which he is waiting now for.
This cycle has been going on for about as long as I have had regular contact with him.
He is quite intelligent, inquisitive and independent by nature (not that he actually can be), and about age 56, height approx. 5'8'' and maybe 200 lbs. And he can be somewhat insistent on how he wants things done.
He lives about 13 miles away from me and I have been there to clean up apt and him in an emergency, but cannot do so as needed.
My proposed alternative to being depended upon unreliable help or being locked in a nursing home, with tax payers thus paying for this cycle is for an permanently staffed assisted living facility, with outside grounds, and in which a handicapped persons as this independently minded and WC mobile person can get their daily maintenance done in the AM, then be able to get out on their own as the show themselves able to do, and be back maybe by 8 PM for night care.
However, while I have tried to interest the major newspaper, there was not real interest. I also tried to post some of this on the local major city FB page but it was not allowed by the HOA type admins. No reason given.
I told this handicapped man that he should try to find a forum for people like himself and try to network with them for answers and suggestions, but he was not very open to the idea.
So if anyone has some respectful input then it may help. Thanks and may God bless.
As you stated, no one, except a volunteer is going to take an overnight shift, where you only get paid for two hours.
That’s unrealistic and even condescending. Even during an overnight shift, one cannot fully relax.
You have to be on guard for signs that your client either needs something, or is in trouble. It’s hard to quantify ongoing inner stress and worry. A basic salary for the entire shift is a beginning.
I wish your friend luck. A health administrator who understands empathy, vs ‘pity’ is a rare find.
I suppose his Case Worker has already tried the local Catholic Charities. Sometimes, Hospice Care may be the only place one can get proper care, even when not immediately terminal. But, for someone only 56 y/o, that may be an environment that is just too depressing and grey.
Thanks but he does not have the $ for that. My mom was in an nice assisted living in MA, and one patient even had a car he could drive, but again, that is not gov. care.
20. Will MassHealth pay for PCA assistance at night? If MassHealth approves PCA services for you at night, it will pay your PCA for at least 2 hours of time for providing you with direct assistance with ADLs at night, whether the PCA provides services for 15 minutes or 100 minutes. If the PCA routinely assists you for more than 2 hours at night, you may request approval for more time at night. MassHealth will pay for night time assistance by rounding it up to the nearest hour. For example, if your PCA provides you with 2 hours and 50 minutes of assistance at night, your PCA will be paid for 3 hours. Night hours are from 12:00 midnight to 6:00 a.m.- https://bostoncil.org/pca-program/faq/#thirteen
Does he qualify for Medicare or Medicaid?..........
If you live in a red state, check to see if there's a Governor's Nursing Home Ombudsmen Group. They assist with making changes and protecting patients.
When you have a complaint write out exactly what happened and send the letter to the Governor of your state. The Governor will never read the letter but his/her office will send the letter down to people who should assist. They're the same people you might complain to directly, but your case will get more attention if they have to send back a report to the Governor's office.(It shouldn't be that way but it's how life works sometimes)
If there's an 'office on Aging' call them. Find out what's available. If there's extra money there are now lawyers who deal with Elder Law. Look for someone who's been in Elder law for at least five years and has a great reputation. That's the group that usually knows what can be done.
You're a kind person and you're in my prayers...
I know how frustrating it is. First I would complain to the NH and the State. It’s hard to find NH staff. So ppl in NH don’t get the care they need. Once it looks like they can go home, there isn’t enough in-home staff.
We have group homes here in MN. In a perfect world, residents get the care level they need, and can live a full life coming and going.
I would agree that assisted living would be optimal for your friend. The State of MN won’t pay for assisted living. Private pay for a few years, then Elderly Waiver will kick in.
There are 1,000’s of people suffering in this cycle. Unfortuately, these are the invisible people, but God’s treasures.
Indeed. And some patients can be insomniacs. Imagine a guard job that only pays you for the actual time you spent walking.
bttt
Next time you think you have problems think of this guy.
Seems the primary concern here is preventing bed sores by regular repositioning during the night thereby allowing the patient to remain in his home. There are medical devices that can do that. Price ranges vary among manufacturers but may be picked up by the insurance, by grants, or fundraising/gofundme campaigns. Here are two random examples to give you a starting point:
Mattress only:
https://www.compressionmedical.com/bed-sore-mattresses/lateral-rotation-low-air-loss-mattress-system/
Complete bed:
“With the addition of the “Freedom Bed IR Control Interface”, most Infra Red capable Voice Control and ECU systems available can be programmed to control all functions...”
https://www.pro-bed.com/features
my husband's cousin lived 10 yrs with ALS....She got to the point where she was completely immobile..could not let alone move...the govt was willing to pay for caregivers except not for several hrs at night ..I don't know whatex3cted her to do.
Modern medicine has given us the ability to keep someone alive for a long time.
I think you must be 62 to begin that. Thanks.
No, as said, he is on MA health. When you have a complaint write out exactly what happened and send the letter to the Governor of your state.
How mean the lesbian? If the man at issue was of trans of a homosexuals claiming discrimination then there could be some traction expected for the issue.
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Thanks, but as said, he is not old enough to be considered a senior. You're a kind person and you're in my prayers...
Thanks be to God, and you!
Thanks, but I do not see these as covered under Mass Health (though it covers abortion i see nothing on devices to prevent bedsores (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/chart-of-masshealth-covered-services) though maybe it might be included in its list. About 3,000 for the lower cost Lateral Rotation Low Air Loss Mattress System. I will ask him about it. Should have one for his chair also, for when help does not show up, then he sleeps in it.
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