| I'm so frustrated. I just got off the phone with yet another state employee. So many people who work for the State Healthcare and Eldercare divisions, including Western State Hospital, have been kind, supportive and hard workers. But since the budget cut of 13 million late last year, the decision to place those that can not be "made well enough" or "rehabilitated" so they can live in the community again, has hurt so many residents, and most importantly to me, my own Mother. Despite being told that "but for" (think tort law) the new mandate to not take into WSH, anybody who is unable to improve and re-enter society, Mom would NOT be ready for placement. Along with the budget cut came an new head of WSH who made this mandate. With this policy, comes the threat that at some point, Mom will be placed out of WSH despite any family wishes and /or Gerry's specific personal needs! Only basic requirements will be met. I asked what would happen if she's placed somewhere and it's not a match - would she be taken back at WSH? The response was, depending on the reason it didn't work, she'd either be placed in a hospital for a while, or another place like United General who will muck with her meds again (I hear the subtext, sedation) and then she'll either placed back from where she was, or put into a new facility.
It [almost] goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway, there will be no consideration on where she is placed relative to where I live and my ability to get there S is doing his best, but there is a slew of pressure he's under, and a multitude of county requirements, and ECS, and RNS and other TLA rules and preferences including arcane formulas and bureaucratic crap he has to do and meet before S can even approach a place about placing Mom. The places available for him to contact are limited. On top of that, facilities refuse to take a medicaid patient their without having paid the "full rate" prior, for a time period from 18 months to 3 years. When Mom was at Homeplace, they had me hold off on filing for Medicaid so that I could continue to pay for "required" 12 months at full price, so she could get the medicaid bed. Unfortunately, the over 5k I paid monthly, was money that was "wasted" as they ultimately did "street" Mom, which started this journey to the State jurisdiction, and our now being in this mess we're in here and now. The State has no loyalty to the patient other than what is written in their directives and guidelines. That is not to say that Mom's placement rep has not tried to work with me. He's very nice and is trying to do what is right for me and Mom, BUT, he works for the state and has to ultimately do what they tell him. They apparently are not letting up on his not having pushed me into agreement for Mom go to that first AFH where they were willing to take her. That place was a long haul, and I was unfamiliar with any of the Medical community, from which I would have to choose a doctor. It's also a type of place that is totally inappropriate for my Mom's needs and preferences. It seems likely, that if something doesn't change or open up soon, Mom may be living even further from me and in a place that is a bad match. This would be hell for Mom. She will be freaked out by being moved from WSH to begin with. Then to be in a new (scary and unfamiliar) place, with a new staff and new MD with new rules will make her anxious and frightened on a new level. If that place doesn't work for her, a hospital stay in store for her, and it is double hell; she has been restrained physically before, because hospitals do NOT have a staff trained to work with Alz or dementia patients. From there, to be placed in yet another facility, with us needing to find another new MD and work to get him /her "up to speed" means even more of Mom's world changing yet again, after her having some semblance of recognition comfort, is inhuman and inhumane and wrong wrong wrong to do to my Mom! Once she's out of WSH, they'll never take her back. Finished. Hands wiped of Gerry. Done. That's why I'm being such a pest to get her placed in the best possible facility where she'll have the most chance of success, and with her health continuing to fail, one the closest it can be to me. I CAN'T have her going through so many changes, when even the simplest routine change is terrifically upsetting for her. Her world feels so unstable for her now with this insidious disease, to make it even more frightening is untenable! I can't allow it! ..and yet I have no power and no choice.
Being on disability, I don't have "disposable income" that I can use for Mom's care. Her funds are virtually gone, just a few "k" left for her personal needs that we provide for her beyond what Medicaid does. This is so frustrating and leaves me spent emotionally spiritually, physically and psychically.
What more can I do? Please send healing, protective light Mom's way, and think positive thoughts for a good placement.
Peace.
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