Dear Toni,
My mother, Doris, had a heart attack in February and was in the hospital for over a week, with a short stay in a skilled nursing facility until she regained her strength. She needed additional care at home, and her cardiologist ordered home health with a nurse who comes to her apartment at the assisted living facility only once a week for about 20 minutes.
I asked her cardiologist and manager of the assisted living facility to order a nurse or aide through her Medicare home health benefits for a minimum of an eight-hour daily stay. I was shocked to learn that Medicare would not approve any additional time for home health.
Now, my mother must pay for home care herself, which is provided by the assisted living facility, costing an extra $1,000 a month in her rent. Please explain what home health is and how to find the right home health company when there is a medical need.
Thanks, Steffanie from Boston