Sally, come home!

[Cherie]

Neuro needs to order swallowing study I would think. Perhaps "Thick It" added to liquids and solids blenderized would help. Do you have aides coming in to help with personal care or housework?

[SalpalSally]

No help here!!

[SuzE-Q]

You need homecare, Sally! The hospital there (or your pcp) must have the phone # to set it up. You shouldn't have been released without a social worker ensuring you were good to go home independently.

I've actually taken to sucking down a package of baby food for nutrition, they mix and puree all kinds of veggie/fruit combos...they're quite tasty. This, to supplement my food, but it's an easy and fast way yo get some fruit and veggies. That, and meal replacement drinks help and ease digestion issues. Do you have food delivery there in some supermarkets?

Glad you have the alert necklace now!

[agate]

I'm partial to yogurt, scrambled eggs, and applesauce at times when eating is a problem. I don't know if any of those would work with GERD though--it's a special case, I think.

Sally, if you're able to get on the phone, there may be a hospital social worker who can make the necessary calls for you in order to line up some at-home help. Most hospitals have these people and one of them should have been in contact with you before you left the rehab place as well. There are visiting nurses and household-help aides who can be lined up. Some of them will fix meals and give aid in feeding, etc.

Howie, in WA state and probably in at least some other states Medicaid does cover a personal emergency response system (sometimes called Lifeline)--the button you wear on a pendant or a wristlet, and if you press it, someone comes on the speakerphone that is also part of the arrangement and asks if you need help. If you do they dial whatever number you have arranged for them to call, usually 911. They have some information about you on file (your doctor's name and number, a contact person or two, etc.).

MedicAlert is actually something else. It's the name of a company that has ID bracelets (or pendants) for sale but these don't have a button to press. It's a little metal thing you wear. On one side of it is engraved some information about you that paramedics might find helpful. Mine mentions MS and diabetes and gives my blood type. There's also an 800 number that can be called for more information, including my doctor's phone number.

Supposedly if you're out cold, the paramedics will think to look for a MedicAlert tag and see if you're allergic to any particular medicines or have a condition they should be aware of.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Sally, you have no way of getting to a doctor's appointment? There are no taxis? I don't know about the area you're in but here (in this town of about 500,000) a lift-equiped taxi is just like any other taxi--costs a bit more and you request it but they do show up. Doctors' offices and clinics will probably call a taxi for you when you're ready to go home too if you want.

[Lazarus]

Sally,
You have gotten a lot of good information here. Sounds like you need someone who will pay attention and make phone calls to the right places for you. Just make one call to start things...to the rehab center you left or to your pcp's office. I call mine and talk to my pcp's nurse when I need direction.

I am so glad that Cherie asked if you needed anything. That was an important question since it started you talking! Now, keep talking.
Linda

[SalpalSally]

Thank you. I admit, I'm still in a bit of a pity party here. I just expected a better bounce back to normalcy than has happened. I'm still a sick puppy and it's just scaring me and depressing me. I guess I'm not a very good patient, these days. The acid reflux, the not eating, my anxiety and panic attacks are ruling my life with no relief in sight at the immediate moment.

You are right, I need a hero to guide me through and help me get straight. Pitiful, huh?
I'm working on it and thank you all for bearing with me. I love you all.

[Howie]

And we love you too Sally, and that's why we are concerned. We want you to have everything you need to have a full recovery. I'm not good at making good suggestions because I really don't know how it works, but help is available.

Joan, I couldn't think of Life Alert, but I came close, didn't I? Thanks for the info.

[stillstANNding]

It's called, "discharge planning" and involves a continuing care nurse and a social worker and your doc to sign off. All of this should have been done to make sure your home was safe and you were safe in your home once you got there. There should be OT's helping you learn Bathing and cooking and managing in general on your on. And PTs and home health aides.

A concrete thing to do is call the facility you were released from and talk to social worker, head nurse, who ever you can get your hands on.

ANN

[stillstANNding]

Found this for your City:

INDEPENDENCE
The Area Agency on Aging is your free connection to hundreds of helpful area resources. When you call us, we’ll arrange a one-on-one meeting in your home so we can create a personalized plan and find the assistance that you need.

How can we make your life better?

Call 937-223-HELP

[agate]

It's called, "discharge planning" and involves a continuing care nurse and a social worker and your doc to sign off. All of this should have been done to make sure your home was safe and you were safe in your home once you got there. There should be OT's helping you learn Bathing and cooking and managing in general on your on. And PTs and home health aides.

A concrete thing to do is call the facility you were released from and talk to social worker, head nurse, who ever you can get your hands on.

ANN

If you have the energy to make calls and put up with being put on hold or cut off a few times, which can be tiring, keep trying with these people. Be a real pest if you have to.

[SalpalSally]

Thanks friends. Home Nurse is coming today at 2.00pm EST. I'll let you know how it goes.

[SuzE-Q]

Thanks friends. Home Nurse is coming today at 2.00pm EST. I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, good, I'm glad.

How about making a list of your needs?

You've mentioned a few here that you might bring up:

- digestion issues
- anxiety meds
- better bed
- food shopping or meal prep for you
- transportation for you, if needed
- physio?
- contact info for resources that offer home visits with support worker for social/general interaction and needs
- personal care support (hair, bathing, etc)

*did I miss anything?

Hope it goes well!

[Virginia]

Well, I miss a few days coming on and SALLY comes home!!!!!! Guess I should have stayed away a little sooner.
I think everyone has let you know how much you were missed Sally.

Home Health Nurse should be there about now. I hope some things get straightened out and you begin to feel a little more secure.

By the way, I had same thing happen to someone I know. She was MS person also and stayed on her kitchen floor for 24 hours before being found. She lived in Retirement Home and ate her meals in cafeteria with other people and no one thought to check on her. It also took her very long time to come back to where she was.

Things like what happened to you are traumatic and really make us loose our self confidence and then we don't feel good about ourselves until we are able to realize it could be any of us who live alone.

I just hope you are strong enough to keep calling whoever you need to for as long as you need to until you get back to yourself.

You definitely are loved and needed and that is a good enough reason to keep going.

Welcome Home!!!!

[SalpalSally]

Thanks SuzE and Virginia. The Nurse was nice and very helpful. She even called my DR. he'll call her back. She suggested a Social worker who could organize some home help and Transportation and such for me. She was a stand in Nurse and the regular Nurse will be seeing me later this week.

Of course I blubbered and she was very thoughtful and helpful. I will look into the transp thingy ASAP. Nothing looks helpful to me right now. I guess I got more blubbering to do, but I'll keep at it.

I love you.

[Cat Dancer]

You should be able to not only have a visiting nurse come regularly, but also a home health aide who can help you bathe or shower, one that can help with basic housecleaning, one that can help withdraw preparation, or help sign you up for meals on wheels, and yes, transportation. You won't be able to go out any time -- but you'll be able to get to doctors appointments and a few other places. All of this should be paid for be Medicare. Also physical therapy, occupational therapy. So be sure to ask about that the next time the nurse comes.