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Originally posted by emleepc
So now we've found out that she doesn't have AML, but CLL....chronic lymphsetic (sp?) leukemia......so after preparing ourselves for the worst, we find out she doesn't have a terminal illness. So that was kinda difficult to deal with too.
She has congestive heart failure, also, and a string of other problems, that are going to cause her to be placed in a nursing home. She will hate it, but I know that is the best thing for her. We can't take care of her without serious medical help.
Please keep the family in your prayers, while we make some decisions about what to do.
Thanks sisters.
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Talk to the person in the Social Services Dept of her hospital who's in charge of her case (most people don't realize that everyone is assigned one upon admission). He/She will give you a list of options.
If she currently lives alone, she can be assessed to see if she needs in home care, on an hourly basis, or with a live-in companion. If she needs blood work done, the hospital may provide a nurses aide who will come in maybe once or twice a week; same with a bath aide. Your grandmother may need as little as medication & someone alert to make sure she's okay, or much, much more. If you do go the home health route, take utilities & meals into consideration. If your grandmother doesn't like the persons you've hired and you're using a reputable agency, ask them for a change.
If you decide for her to go to a nursing home, be sure to ask the aide to patient ratio. If it's more than 15, ask why, because that's NOT good. Make sure that there's both an Lpn and an RN on duty ALL the time - many homes do not. Ask for a price list for laundry, food (in the dining hall or delivered to her room), hair care, etc - some charge extra, and some don't (most do). Look for cleanliness, politeness in ALL the personnel, and a locking locker. Call your state nursing home licensing inspector and see what they say - any hesitation is a HUGE clue!
Stupid but sensible hint: advise your grandmother to either put away her very valuable items, or, if she plans to leave them to someone in particular, go ahead and give them. Aides who have passed several background checks may still be tempted, or worse, think that they're under scrutiny and walk out.
I could go on and on, as this is what I do for a living, but I'll keep it short. If you have more questions, please let me know.
I'm so glad to hear that your grandmother's in better shape than you originally thought!
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