My 98-year-old Dad fell and broke his neck last week. He fractured two bones, and the first miracle is that he survived.
He’s one tough old bird, and is now out of ICU and in a regular hospital room in Pittsburgh. The hospital wants to discharge him asap, so that means my brother, sister-in-law and I are in a mad dash to find a Nursing Home/Rehab unit that is the best choice for dear old Dad.
While this is a very personal and urgent decision, I’m pretty sure I’m not the first person in my generation to face this dilemma, and I won’t be the last. So, how to choose?
We visited two Skilled Nursing Homes with Rehab yesterday, both highly rated. We liked them both, but each had pluses and minuses. The first one was elegant and tasteful and spotless, but we didn’t see much patient-staff interaction and in fact most people seemed to be in their rooms when we visited at 9 a.m. The second place was more careworn and institutional, but we saw lots of staff-client interaction and the patients seemed more engaged in activity, including lounging around the attractive front entrance.
The place we’ll visit today is not rated as highly. Dad’s already been there short term and we weren’t overwhelmed with his treatment plan, BUT it has the huge advantage of being very close to my brother’s home here, and “accessibility” is a big factor.
Complicating our decision is the fact that Dad’s doctor at the hospital last night told us that as we choose, we should keep in mind that this may well become Dad’s permanent home, not just a rehab stay for a few weeks. We’re still hoping of course that Dad can go back to his apartment in Assisted Living, and knowing Dad, he just might do that. I call him the Energizer Bunny and he’s bounced back before.
But realistically, we have to choose carefully…and make that choice today. Somehow I bet there are other Baby Boomers/Sandwich Generation members making this same choice, under pressure, as I write this. Would sure love to pool our knowledge and learn from you too. I feel like I need the wisdom of Solomon, and the importance of our choice seems critical.
So, if you’ve got any advice to send my way, please do. If you’re in the same situation yourself, good luck and God bless.
Photo Credit
“18:30@home” alternakive@Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
Hi Star,
In reading, only today, your article above I was horrified at the awfulness for your dad and for you all, not just the accident, but the choices one has to make, and endure,.
Now it is no longer July, it is nearly December and I am so hoping your dad has been able to heal and that you and the family have been able to find a pleasant and kindly run establishment that he is able to enjoy., or as you mention, maybe he is home again and has home help.
I am nearing the age where I too will have to make some very serious choices for my own future.
It will be scary, but certainly necessary …..sooner or later. Naturally, I shall prefer to think later which I realize is not always helpful.
My heartfelt good wishes to you all.
Joan.(Granny).