topic Re: CNA/ Home Health Care in Community Chat

CNA/ Home Health Care

Seannie — Sat, 29 May 2021 16:45:02 GMT

Hi all,

Hope someone has experience since I have zero. Elderly couple living at home. Wife is bedridden, incontinent, blind and mostly deaf. Husband feeds her, and with help of 60-year-old son living there, changes diapers 2x daily, sponge bath 3x weekly. Wife is obese, difficult to roll over to change her or bed linens.

After 8 years, son is leaving town.

My question--can in-home help be obtained for 11/2 to 2 hours daily--someone who is willing to work with a large bedridden patient? The family says no nurse aide wants to deal with a heavy person.

Thanks again friends, Seannie

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

tucsongal — Sat, 29 May 2021 16:54:40 GMT

@Seannie Yes but the care will not be covered by insurance unless they have a long term policy. I would look into an agency that utilizes CNA’s who should be experienced. It sounds like she needs more than once daily care; some agencies will come in mornings and evenings for a couple hours. I should add that depending on the area it might be more difficult, e.g. if very rural.

Based on the information you’ve given, I’m not sure if this will provide the care she might really need. But it’s a place to start if they are set on having her stay at home.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

nana59 — Sat, 29 May 2021 16:51:44 GMT

sounds like she needs more than a couple of hours of nursing care....maybe time to look into a nursing home facility....can't imagine her elderly husband dealing with this responsibility....just my opinion.....

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Mindy D — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:18:15 GMT

@Seannie wrote:
Hi all,
Hope someone has experience since I have zero. Elderly couple living at home. Wife is bedridden, incontinent, blind and mostly deaf. Husband feeds her, and with help of 60-year-old son living there, changes diapers 2x daily, sponge bath 3x weekly. Wife is obese, difficult to roll over to change her or bed linens.
After 8 years, son is leaving town.

My question--can in-home help be obtained for 11/2 to 2 hours daily--someone who is willing to work with a large bedridden patient? The family says no nurse aide wants to deal with a heavy person.

Thanks again friends, Seannie

@Seannie @Sometimes you can find someone that works for an agency that is willing to take on a couple more hours for themselves on the side that is willing to do only two hours. Agencies usually send someone for a minimum of four hours. I have taken care of two family members with the same needs as you described for many years. It's very hard to find a two hours a day person. Expect to see four hour minimums. I can't speak to changes in home care that have come about since the pandemic because I took care before it. Unless the person is super, super obese, what I say will apply to most obese persons. One poster suggested Visiting Angels. You could try them first.

Some counties have programs that send home health workers. These programs vary as to who is eligible and what the workers will do, how long the worker will stay, how often the worker will come. You can check.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Deree — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:07:02 GMT

Call your local Department of the Aging for options and assistance.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

ScrapHappy — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:12:21 GMT

The first thing I would do is contact the woman's doctor. Since she is obese, bedridden and incontinent, she may have bed sores. She is blind and almost deaf...I'm pretty certain there are medical issues that can be addressed in a home setting. The doctor would need to "write" an order for home care evaluation. A nurse comes out to do evaluation as what needs she may have. A medical need has to be found. In some cases, Medicare will pay for some home visits but not many and not for long periods of time. Once that ends, it's private pay. RN's usually do the evaluations and are the case managers of care. LPN's and CNA's perform the physical care.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Anonymous032819 — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:14:20 GMT

Do you have Visiting Angels in your area? https://www.visitingangels.com

You can schedule a consult, for the number of hours per week, that they will come out to help.

I used them with my dad, and they were great.

Hope this helps!

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Still Raining — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:27:40 GMT

Can they request an evaluation of her AND his needs and capabilities? If she is 100% bedridden, DH will not be able to properly care for her.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

moonandthestars — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:02:57 GMT

@Seannie

Good answers so far. I would agree with the poster who said that the woman's doctor should be contacted. It seems clear that this woman would need assistance - living at home. The dr's office can write orders for the home care - also probably add in some physical therapy - and with the doctor's order there will be insurance coverage. Yes, it is limited to how many visits and for how long. But even after that period it can be re-evaluated and re-submitted. The professionals usually know how to handle it. It's been quite a few years since my experience with this sort of thing - but I do urge you or their family to contact her dr and elderly services in the area. When I was in the midst of this, there was also the catholic charities organization that also provided some care / companionship / conversation. I'd be shocked if home health care would be refused to help someone who was very overweight. Obviously it would need to be someone who had some strength and good techique. Fingers crossed she and her husband get the assistance they obviously need.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Meowingkitty — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:24:04 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
Do you have Visiting Angels in your area? https://www.visitingangels.com

You can schedule a consult, for the number of hours per week, that they will come out to help.

I used them with my dad, and they were great.

Hope this helps!

Visiting Angels is very expensive plus they want a minimum of 4 hours. We used them for my aunt when she broke her leg in 2018 and she needed 24/7 care and they were $15,000 a month.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:28:19 GMT

@Seannie .............The poor lady needs to be put in an extended care facility. Her husbands needs a break. He can always visit regularly and even feed her if he wants.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Anonymous032819 — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:35:50 GMT

@Meowingkitty wrote:
@Anonymous032819 wrote:
Do you have Visiting Angels in your area? https://www.visitingangels.com

You can schedule a consult, for the number of hours per week, that they will come out to help.

I used them with my dad, and they were great.

Hope this helps!
Visiting Angels is very expensive plus they want a minimum of 4 hours. We used them for my aunt when she broke her leg in 2018 and she needed 24/7 care and they were $15,000 a month.

@Meowingkitty

When I hired them for my dad, they came out ONE day a week, for TWO hour visit.

So, that's why I say to call and get a consult. It isn't gonna hurt to do that.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

pdlinda — Sat, 29 May 2021 18:42:39 GMT

@Imaoldhippie As I read this heartbreaking and very complicated situation, what you suggested jumped into my mind.

I think having a stable, comprehensive and professional environment to deal with the woman's numerous conditions (with active input from her husband) is the most effective and compassionate approach to this situation.

It would probably work out best financially for the family (although I admit I don't know anything about what medicare picks up for extended care).

I DO KNOW that, in general, in-home care is very expensive and not picked up by insurance because I'm arranging for it myself after my upcoming total knee replacement in October. My daughter will stay with me for a week; however, after that I will still additional home care and will pay for it out-of-pocket.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

redbird — Sat, 29 May 2021 19:05:06 GMT

The situation you describe is actually dangerous. What would happen to the bedridden patient in case of fire for example. Two hours a day would only allow for one diaper change every 24 hours. That could lead to infections and skin conditions. Two hours twice a day might work but agencies don't operate that way. What would happen to the poor lady should her elderly husband fall or something? Hopefully they have a home alarm system in place.Wishing these poor souls the best. It is hard to give up the independence of a home but sometimes it is the best solution.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

reiki604 — Sat, 29 May 2021 20:41:16 GMT

Sadly, the best course of action is placement in a facility. Medicare has 5 requirements for eligibility for homecare and those are that the person be homebound, need skilled services, services to be short term and intermittent, under a plan of care and supervision of a Dr., as well as the person being safe at home. This person seems to meet only one of those requirements. Her elderly husband could not keep her safe in case of an emergency. Hiring someone, even if you could find someone, for and hour or 2 a day would mean she would only be changed once a day as her husband cannot perform that task, and it would lead to skin breakdown and infection.

I spent the last years of my nursing career in homecare and a case like this would be sent to the hospital for further evaluation and an ACS referral.

Depending on the financial situation of the couple and the state they live in, they may be eligable for Medicaid. That would be appllied for from a social worker if that option is available to them. Medicaid can pay for more hours of personal care if approved.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Mindy D — Sat, 29 May 2021 21:01:50 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
@Meowingkitty wrote:
@Anonymous032819 wrote:
Do you have Visiting Angels in your area? https://www.visitingangels.com

You can schedule a consult, for the number of hours per week, that they will come out to help.

I used them with my dad, and they were great.

Hope this helps!
Visiting Angels is very expensive plus they want a minimum of 4 hours. We used them for my aunt when she broke her leg in 2018 and she needed 24/7 care and they were $15,000 a month.

@Meowingkitty

When I hired them for my dad, they came out ONE day a week, for TWO hour visit.

So, that's why I say to call and get a consult. It isn't gonna hurt to do that.

@Anonymous032819 @Wish they were around when I needed help. Thanks for posting.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

kimbobimbo — Sun, 30 May 2021 13:20:51 GMT

@Seannie

I'm a social worker who works with older adults. If the couple aren't able to afford home care, Medicaid offers community long term care coverage. Reach out to the area's Dept. of Aging - they should be able to provide guidance.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Imaoldhippie — Sun, 30 May 2021 19:43:56 GMT

@pdlinda ............I was so saddened at their situation. It could happen to any of us at any given time.

I know that your knee replacement will go well and you will be dancing before you know it. From what I have been told by people that have had the knee surgery, its not nearly as disabling as it used to be, maybe you wont need home care at all or not nearly as long as you anticipate. Do you have friends, other family or church members that would be willing to help you out? I will pray that you have painless speedy recovery.

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

Seannie — Sun, 30 May 2021 21:50:50 GMT

Thanks all, for your help. Many great suggestions. The nursing homes nearby are very substandard and dangerous (southwestern PA) and because the son had worked in one as a youth, he said he would never put his parents in one, but care for them at home. Apparently he has now changed his mind as he is leaving town.

Seannie

Re: CNA/ Home Health Care

GinzTonic — Sun, 30 May 2021 21:56:56 GMT

Many home care agencies , have a 25 pound lifting restriction for their employees. Some clients are a 2 person asssist. Also some agency's are non-medical, even though they employe CNA HHA, there draw the line at home much care they can actually do.