Many of you have offered your comments about the prospect of my thinking of bringing my husband home from the nursing home in FL. You've asked me to evaluate the pros and cons of doing so. This in mind.....The Pros: I love him (even though there's always been "trouble in paradise") and don't believe he has long on this earth by the way the disease is progressing; He would be happier back home with all he's known (his attitude over the last couple of days has been joyful at the thought of his coming home to be with me; I'm forlorn and lonely in this big place all by myself; my 'financial picture' would be a tiny bits more secure; I can finish pre-qualifying him for Medicaid; I DO intend to have him participate in daycare at least one to three days a week so I can get something done; The people there have told me they can do a lot of the paperwork for Medicare, VA benefits, all else he may be qualified to receive.....and Medicaid which he'll eventually need . They will help me find a nursing home if this doesn't work out; I'ill have some one to talk to and watch me work everyday; I'll get to cook and nurture someone who needs me, watch TV with someone (even if they ARE staring off into the wall) and read to.....maybe make love once in a while????? CONS: worried about his unforseen outbursts of angry talk....could it escalate to violence? (Intend to have meds on board before he comes home); What if he falls again when I'm not watching? ; What if I get hurt doing something? When I think of everything it all seems to even out. I know I'll have no help. When I look around at the community here, some of you have children who have decided to move home or come out once a week or so to relieve you in the care. Do you think one of my two girls an hour and a half from me would give up a weekend? No. Do you think that one of my daughters that STILL has no clue as to what she wants to do with her life would agree to move home to lessen my load and help with her father in his last days....and understand what I've been trying to tell her I'm dealing with? Won't happen. I know I'm going to go this alone except for help I can get from organizations out there. So.,....guess I've decided to have him home as long as I can do it. Thinking maybe medicare will pay for or partially pay for a lift for the stairway? How about a ramp from the front of the house? Any experience with that?I'm so nervous. One of his physical therapists say that he'll finish up his therapy on Monday.,....that he's done unusually well and recovered far faster than they'd hoped. Don't know how soon his release will be, though.
You can write "home improvements" off your income tax, also health aides etc - but I am pretty sure Medicare won't pay on them. It WILL pay on stuff like walkers and wheelchairs *if the doctor orders them*
It sounds like the family in Florida has given up on trying to keep him there, is that right?
I don't know.....his sister talks to me when she has to.......has agreed to give me "custodianship" when the "time comes". (?) I still can get no answer back from his divorce lawyer....mine can't seem to get any answers, either. SOMEONE must be in control, but I don't know who. Don't know who has POA, but assume its his son, the lawyer there in Orlando. I MUST have all the legals back in my court before bringing him home, I know this.