Did I do the right thing?

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

I just want to get a feel for what ya'll think and see if you think I made a sensible decision. I had to force my mother to the doc 6/20 because she was weak,dizzy, incont and having massive headaches. I thought she was about to stroke out man, she tried to refuse and I said "your not sitting here to die". We went to the doc and he immediatly direct admitted her to the hospital. Come to find out she had 95% blockage of one carotid artery and 100% in the other. She had the surgery yesterday to clean out her carotid artery and is doing well now in ICU. However, since she has been in she is now incont, very weak and can't walk (these are things she was doing before and she was cont). She was always week but now it is worse. They want to D/C her from the hospital with Home Health... are you kidding me? This woman wont let them in her house and they only come 3 day's a week. I live just down the road but my hands are overflowing with 5 kids, full time job and school, Husband that dont give a damn and goes FT to school as well. Did I mention I have no babysitter. So I made a decision to send her to my job a skilled nursing facility for 20 day's of rehab. She is ok with it but I feel kinda guilty because I told her I would never send her to a Nursing home and here I am shipping her off to this "REHAB". I am a nurse and I know this is the best thing for her , I guess I just need someone else to say it before I can justifly it.:uhoh21:

[pricklypear]

I think you did the right thing. 20 days of rehab is not the same thing as being "put in a nursing home." It sounds to me like she will benefit from the services at rehab.

[new_mom26]

I think you did the right thing also. My 74 year old father has parkinsons and we went through something like this with him. The hospital he was in suggested a rehabilitation hospital. Its called Rehabilitation hospital of Indiana. He went for 4 weeks and when he was discharged he walked out instead of using the wheelchair. I don't know where you live but, maybe you could look into something like that for her if you don't feel comfortable sending her to where you work at.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Yes.....you did the right thing. I see situations like this alot (I work LTC). Remeber that when elderly get sick, they don't rebound as quick as younger. We have many short term residents who have gone thru a surgery or illness in the hospital, but aren't ready for home yet. Often times it is PT/OT for two or three weeks then home. Just remeber that 20 days might not be the majic number (probably its the 100% rate for her medicare) .

Since she was living by herself, has a great daughter..who is a nurse..she's got good support.

New-mom mentioned a rehab center...We have them in our area..Healthsouth is one, but don't discount a skilled nursing facility..ie nursing home. We have a kick ass therapy department and most LTCs do.

Look up the facilities in your area and you can find out about their surveys, visit them if you can...look in to them.

[txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your reply's . I am sending her to the facility I work at , we have a wonderful therapy dept. It is very hard when the tables are turned and it's your family that is in question.

[NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN]

I think sending her to where you work is a good option. You can keep an eye on her and she probably won't feel so alone/abandoned. I think you made a wise decision. Her stint in rehab will allow you more time to work out what to do if she can't go home and she'll get a taste of a LTC facility. That way, if she does have to be placed for awhile, she won't be going into it blindly. Just my .

[nckdl]

Your mother will probably thank you when she leaves rehab feeling better than she did when she went in. My ltc facility is starting to turn into a rehab skilled facililty and i have more skilled pts than long term pts. Good luck to you and your mother.

[rjflyn, ASN, RN]

My comment comes with a it depends. You dont mention how old mom is in your original post. If mom is 50ish thats one thing and 80ish is another. In the end you did what you felt was best at the time for your situation. I will caution you that since you are placing mom where you work you need to be very careful you dont neglect/abandon your patients that you are responsible for because you are spending so much time looking in on mom.

Rj