Colleen[6]: WTF??!

[mdlbear]

Colleen was doing fairly well when I saw her this evening: bored, but getting resigned to a long stay. But now, it seems, they are getting ready to send her home with some kind of portable IV pump. WTF??!

Update: 11/22 2pm She'll be moving to a skilled nursing facility, no earlier than Monday or Tuesday, and will stay until it's safe for her to be at home with less than 24-hour care.

OK, I know it's possible, in theory. People do it -- I've seen people walking around with PICC lines, now that I know what to look for. BUT: she can't care for herself at home -- she isn't even able to walk the distance from the front door to the bedroom by herself at this point -- and there isn't going to be anyone home during the day to care for her. We're going to be gone during Thanksgiving weekend. The bed's too high for her to get in and out of safely. She needs a walker when she's this weak, and she can't handle both that and the IV pump.

And when something inevitably goes wrong, it's an ER visit.

They don't even know at this point whether it's going to start healing or whether she's going to need surgery. I have no idea how long this is likely to go on. Or what to look for to see whether anything is going wrong.

The last time they sent her home too early it was a freaking disaster. The time before that it was merely a nightmare.

NOT a happy Bear.

Update: Saturday 08:30 It looks as though they're going to send her home tomorrow. It's probably going to be impossible to fight it, so my plan now is to ensure that she can use a walker or a wheelchair without having to also deal with a pole full of IV crap, make sure it's safe for her to be home alone for most of the day. We'll either have to cancel LOSCON or arrange for someone to stay with her. She may have to stay in the sewing room for a while if the bed is too high.

Comments

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

I agree with everything that lisa_marli said.

There are two lines of attack here.

1) Assert categorically to Kaiser that taking her out of the hospital will cost them a LOT more money in the long term. Talk to the ombudsman. Think about a lawyer. This is not a time when raised voices would necessarily be out of place. The point that no one will be there during the day to care for her is a cogent one. You are the only breadwinner so you simply CANNOT do this by yourself.

A powerful argument is this. The patient, in her own home, will be horribly tempted to eat. If she eats, she will get sicker and quite possibly die. Sending her home is quite literally setting the patient up to fail.

2) If taking her home is inevitable:

a) Refuse to take her home until YOU are convinced that you and another family member (Chaos by default, perhaps someone else) are completely briefed by the medical professionals on what care is required, how to accomplish this care, and who to call when help or advice is needed. All of this should also be in writing.

If they are unable to provide this, clearly it is not safe to take her home.

b) Put together a care plan for making sure people are there to help take care of her. While some people you know are likely to volunteer to help, a 24-7 caretaking schedule should be established and arrangements made for both professional nursing and respite (caretaker rest) care.

Having her alone in the house at any time is Simply Not An Option.

c) Talk to your HR / Employee Assistance Program / etc. on Monday to see if there are any other resources you can draw on.

This is not a time for Mr. Nice Bear. Best wishes to all your household in this time.