i need some opinions on what to do with one of my home care pt's.
i'll give you a little hx. first.
female, mid 50's, lives alone,no willing family to assist. has chronic diagnoses but nothing that should seriously be disabling according to the multitude of md's who have treated over the years.
also has chronic pain issues,currently taking meds for same. mild depression/anxiety, controlled w/meds.
divorced, one child who lives out of state and doesn't really want to be bothered.
pt. has been on long term home care for about a year since coming out of ltc facility. when first admitted on our program, she was ambulating with walker and doing stairs. in the past year, she has slowly refused to get out of wheelchair (which she had to be used for longer distances) and is now completely w/c bound.
i'm at my wit's end. i and the md have talked and talked about all the problems she will face and some she has already had due to not ambulating,. she even sleeps in the chair. she has already had cellulitis and wounds on lower ext. due to edema, she won't elevate legs. this is a youngish woman who is sentencing herself to a life of never being able to walk again. we have pt in there again to try and help but i don't see the point. they can't stay on the case forever and she basically won't do the exercises on her own anyway.
btw, she has a foley , and wears a diaper for bm's because she refuses to get on a commode too.
should i just give up??? my supvr. of course is aware and obviously i can't make the pt. get up. i just feel really helpless and i guess a little angry. i have a paraplegic that would love the opportunity to have the ability to walk.. i have dealt with plenty of non compliance in my experience but this situation is so frustrating.
i would appreciate any suggestions or comments....
