Got word yesterday that Dad will need to be transitioned to a Skilled Nursing Facility or SNF as we call it in Medicare world by next Monday. Medicare only pays for a limited stay in an acute facility and Dad’s time has run out. He has actually been there longer than he would have because he had to go over to Grant 5 for a spell, so when he returned to rehab he started over from day one (way to find a way around the system eh?). There are several options for us to look at and many more questions to ask, but the bottom line is, he is not ready to come home yet and so has to enter a SNF.
This afternoon PJ and I visited three such facilities from a list we received, Ross Manor, Stillwater Healthcare and Bangor Nursing and Rehabilitation. All were fine facilities, all offer the same services, all had friendly knowledgeable staff. Our concern with moving him is that we don’t want him to regress. Obviously we want him to continue to improve to the point where he can come home again.
Touring these facilities I felt like a parent touring college campuses for my child, the obvious difference being this was for Dad and not my child. It was a whirlwind of information and to be honest, in the end, no one facility was better or worse than the other. They all do the same things and they all base much of their services on what kind of insurance you have (that is a topic for another discussion though). It’s kind of like Goldilocks and the three bears and looking for the bed that fits best. This one talked about what the goal was (for us and Dad) after he was done at their facility, this one was very knowledgeable about insurance requirements and was pretty to look at, this one talked about physical therapies used specifically with stroke patients. So which one is the best fit and is just right? As different as PJ and I are is also as similar as we are. We are only 16 months apart in age and growing up always had the same friends and always hung out together. It was actually a point of contention when other parents found this out, because their children were not as close as PJ and I. We are completely on the same page when it comes to Dad and what is best for him and when we left all three of these facilities we both agreed on which one we were leaning towards. It was very comforting. You can say what you want about either of us and I wouldn't care. Both Mom and Dad raised two very loving compassionate children, who would do anything for our parents. Dad is ready to take this next step and he has to take this next step so he can come home, something I know he will be able to do.
Touring these facilities I felt like a parent touring college campuses for my child, the obvious difference being this was for Dad and not my child. It was a whirlwind of information and to be honest, in the end, no one facility was better or worse than the other. They all do the same things and they all base much of their services on what kind of insurance you have (that is a topic for another discussion though). It’s kind of like Goldilocks and the three bears and looking for the bed that fits best. This one talked about what the goal was (for us and Dad) after he was done at their facility, this one was very knowledgeable about insurance requirements and was pretty to look at, this one talked about physical therapies used specifically with stroke patients. So which one is the best fit and is just right? As different as PJ and I are is also as similar as we are. We are only 16 months apart in age and growing up always had the same friends and always hung out together. It was actually a point of contention when other parents found this out, because their children were not as close as PJ and I. We are completely on the same page when it comes to Dad and what is best for him and when we left all three of these facilities we both agreed on which one we were leaning towards. It was very comforting. You can say what you want about either of us and I wouldn't care. Both Mom and Dad raised two very loving compassionate children, who would do anything for our parents. Dad is ready to take this next step and he has to take this next step so he can come home, something I know he will be able to do.
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