Bev Almost Gets the Boot

Bev’s Alzheimer’s disease has been diagnosed as late-stage. The neuropsychologist that I spoke with explained that Bev’s quick decline was due to a number of factors, including lack of oxygen, improper nutrition, extreme fragility, improper medications, and her fall. Ever since that diagnosis was made two weeks ago, though, Bev has made some pretty impressive progress. She is no longer delusional, although she is still very forgetful and quite confused. She has been prescribed a myriad of medications that I think are partially responsible for her improvement, but we still plan to request a re-evaluation of her Alzheimer’s since it does seems to be more middle-stage now.

To add to our daily fun, the rehab place called late Saturday afternoon to inform us that Bev was set to be released on Sunday. HUH?! I had recently attended a meeting with all of her caregivers, and it had been determined that she still required weeks of physical therapy in order to do simple things – like say, walk, for example. Jim and I rushed up to the nursing facility and had a discussion with the social worker who had just phoned. She said that Bev’s Medicare only covered 20 days of skilled care, so we would have to either a) pick her up the next morning, or b) pay $206 per day out of pocket if she stayed. To make a long story short, I met with someone there today and resolved the Medicare issue. Most of the blame for the mix-up lies with Jim’s sister, Debbie, as the rehab place mailed some materials to her house instead of ours, and she just threw everything away without opening it. (Not the first time this has happened; she once pitched a $2,000 insurance check unopened into the trash because she "didn't recognize the return address!") Jim, Debbie, and Jay had hoped that Bev would eventually be able to return home, but realize now that she really does need 24-hour care. This became apparent to them when it was established that the three of them would be the main parties responsible for providing this daily supervision. The fact that it would include dressing her, giving her meds three times a day, making her meals, assisting her in the bathroom (eeew!), and taking turns sleeping over at her house proved to be a bit more than any of them bargained for. We have looked at so many assisted living residences lately that our heads are spinning. I guess we will be choosing one any day now. And if anyone ever needs assistance in securing living arrangements for an elderly friend or relative, just ask us. We have become somewhat-reluctant, yet well-informed experts in the field of senior care.