Am I missing something?

My inlaws are very strange. So my MIL was involved a a serious car accident and fractured her fibia and ankle. That was the extent of her injuries. She went to rehab for 5 days and his mom told my husband and BIL that she apparently needs 24 hour care. She is now staying with my brother in law. What doesn't make sense to me is, I thought if you needed care after rehab you were assigned a social worker. There is apparently no nurse or physical therapist scheduled to come help. It's basically now the family's job to care for her forb6 weeks. Is it me or am I missing something to the story? Something just seems off.

Re: Am I missing something?

sounds like a form of Muchausens by proxy syndrome.. sorry no disrespect. I don't know what your relationship is with her.. but, sounds like she is wanting all attention drawn to her by making people feel bad for her. I used to know someone like this. Glad I no longer do. Good luck.

Re: Am I missing something?

Message edited 2/18/2017 3:34:49 PM.

Re: Am I missing something?

Thought I replied... If she can go to the bathroom by hersef, she doesn't need someone 24/7

Re: Am I missing something?

Re: Am I missing something?

Get her a shower cast from Amazon.

Am I missing something?

My friend's mother required a lot of care (bathing,feeding herself,etc) and it took about 2 years for them to get insurance to pay for an aide.

Re: Am I missing something?

Re: Am I missing something?

Is she not married? How old is she? Aides are very very expensive and it's rare insurance will cover full time care. Just be prepared (not just you, all of our generation), it will be likely we will need to care for our parents. Bone fractures can be serious in older folks.

Re: Am I missing something?

If she''s ambulatory she really doesn't need help. PT won't start until the breaks heal.
After my double knee replacements, I was in rehab for 11 days then came home. No one came to my house. Thankfully DH is retired because he was my caretaker/therapy partner/cook/driver until I could do more for myself.

Re: Am I missing something?

I don't think you are missing something. I tore my entire knee. Nothing was holding the top of my leg to the bottom of my leg. I went to the ER and they told me to go to an orthopedist the next day. I had my husband drive me. He had to take time off of work and work from home to help me. Then, he broke his arm. My bil ended up moving in with us for two weeks to help both of us while my parents took our kids for three weeks to help us. It was terrible. Our doctor was the same orthopedist. At that point he did get someone to come to my house twice a week for thirty minutes for physical therapy. At no point was anyone made available to us through insurance. That is only for elderly on medicaid and Medicare. So yes, the family is expected to help the relative out by driving and getting them food. For weeks until my surgery I needed help to get up to go to the bathroom and to shower. It was an incredibly awful time. This is not munchausen by proxy. She got hurt and needs help. That is what family is for. I would gladly help my family if the case was reversed.

Message edited 2/18/2017 11:52:01 PM.

Am I missing something?

she would have a social worker only if she needed home care/PT, wound care etc They should have a discharge plan for her. Medicare will not pay for custodial care which is meal pre, showering. Family can pay for a private aid to help or hirer someone off an Ad. I agree this is not munchausen. 24/7 care is for those who have dementia etc not someone who broke an ankle, leg ..etc.

Am I missing something?

Typically if there is family, insurance will not cover any sort of aide or nurse. My mother had lung cancer, we were not able to get a nurse for her because my brother lived in her home. My mother was completely incapable of caring for herself in the weeks leading up to her admission to hospice. I was going to her daily, 30 miles one way with a newborn.

Re: Am I missing something?

Re: Am I missing something?

There is no medical necessity for her to have 24 hour care. It''s just a fracture.
Is that what SHE said, or was in the discharge papers ?
Is she supposed to stay off her leg ? How is she getting around, crutches, walker, is she wearing a cast or a boot ?

Showering should be in a shower chair with someone nearby to help her get in and out. She should be able to toilet herself, a raised seat with arms might be a bit easier.

Am I missing something?

Wow it sounds like an episode of the Real Housewives on this thread tossing around Munchausen.

My BIL just broke his ankle and needs constant care for 4 weeks. He is not allowed to put any weight on the foot at all, nothing. He is confined to one room of his house and is only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom which he needs help to do. He is not eligible for an aide so we are all taking turns helping out.

Re: Am I missing something?

If she has limited mobility then YES she needs 24 hour care. She's a fall risk on crutches. If she can't drive or shower properly then of course she needs care.

Re: Am I missing something?

nm

Message edited 2/20/2017 3:48:38 PM.

Re: Am I missing something?

It's very possible that they asked her in rehab if she lives alone or if someone can help.. if she's staying with BIL then someone can help. Even if she needed an aide or something, it would generally require an assessment from Visiting Nurse Service or something like that, and still it would likely only be a few hours every day.

This is not, by any stretch, Munchaussen Syndrome - by proxy or not.

Re: Am I missing something?

I broke my leg several years ago and it was tremendously difficult for me to get around especially in the beginning. I am very fit and active and crutches were still extremely exhausting. I don't think it is an exaggeration for her to say she needs 24 hour care. She was probably told that by the doctor, also. Mine basically told me not to do anything.

Re: Am I missing something?

Am I missing something?

You aren't not missing anything. But saying that it was the extent is rough. You said fibia. Did you mean tibia or fibula? And her ankle. She will not get any help. And she is expected to handle it on her own. So yes, with a broken leg and ankle she will need help. She may need assistance to go to the bathroom at night, etc..