Elder Loved One in Hospital with Broken Hip During COVID-19

Having a parent that has gone through the process of a hospital stay and rehab without a pandemic is difficult. Now add the care needs of a loved one with  COVID-19 and it’s even more complex.

Here are 10 tips when considering rehab:

1. Determine if the facility has any exposure to COVID-19.   Have the Hospital Care Coordinator inquire for you to get specific details.
2. Look at the ratings of the Care Center on Medicare.gov click on Find Care and then Nursing Homes.
3. Inquire how often therapy is done, 2 times a day 7 days a week is the best to recover most quickly.
4. If your loved one needs 1 on 1 care because of confusion after surgery etc, will family be able to provide?  Rehab options can not provide 1 on 1 staffing.
5. Ask if rehab can be done at home or someplace else.  It may not be as much therapy unless you supplement privately but it may be worth the price if you are not feeling positive about the options that are presented.
6. Is the facility close to you if you are the one advocating.  You want it to be convenient to check in with not only care staff but therapists.
7. A private room is important during these times of COVID vs. a shared room and shared bathroom.
8. Understand how therapy will be paid.   If insurance, make sure your loved one’s insurance is accepted.
9. Tour the facilities and observe the care, check out the therapy room, talk to those  there now to see how  they like it.
10. When your loved one is in therapy, they need to keep working at improvement for it to be covered.