Since obviously, I’ve never had a cooking before, I have no idea what to expect. None of us do since we’re all different. As I’ve stated, my mothers coming down a couple of days before surgery yet and then she thinks that she might be able to go home For five days after I have surgery. This means that I would be by myself at that point. I’m not quite sure how I feel about being by myself especially at night if she’s only here for like four days. How long did you need someone to help you at home? I have problems with stability sometimes. I’ll be using my walker to get me around so I don’t fall. But that’s kind of my biggest issue is falling in my house while I’m alone.
You may want to get a medical alert system as Merl has mentioned before. There are many options out there. Since you’re concerned about falling, you would need to add that feature at an extra cost. Mom had one, unfortunately she would remove hers when in the shower even though the sale rep told her it was waterproof. Guess where she fell…
The other option that won’t cost you a dime is calling your local law enforcement agency and ask them if they have a well check call system that they can call you once a day. If you don’t answer they send an officer to check on you. The downfall to this is you may have to lay on the floor until the next call. You would also have to cross your fingers that there’s an officer who is available to respond. Small towns will send the Officer of the Day out if needed, I don’t know about big cities.
When Mom fell one time, her fall alert worked and contacted both us and EMS. One of the things we did do when EMS suggested it, was to hide a key somewhere near the door. We used a metal “hide a key” that was metal with a magnet on the bench near their carport door that we put on the metal frame. Of course EMS has to know where it is placed…but it helped them respond faster when we didn’t live with them. Our friends have a key under a plate near their door
Find out if your specific hospital has a Social Work Dept. They should have community contacts already established. Some community centres also have networks of service agencies. Try to network with them BEFORE they are needed. Make contact with them for a ‘Just-in-case’ scenario. The hospital may have a community nurse attached for at home care.
As I suggested previously, Mum may see that you need additional support and stay. But by making contact with services prior, you’re not starting cold post-surgery. Trying to sort it all out and dealing with recovery issues after the operation can be VERY difficult, so back yourself up NOW. You could bounce back really well and wonder what all the fuss was about, but, just in case, back yourself up. You can always cancel services if they are not needed.
Merl from the Modsupport Team
Every hospital here does have a Social Work Dept that I know of, usually one for Pediatrics and one for Cancer, sometimes for Cardiology but that’s hit or miss. They are knowledgeable about many available services in the county in which they work. The SW that was assigned to the Neuro ICU didn’t do a thing for me, I don’t think she even introduced herself, she may have. I’m unsure to this day what her purpose was, all I ever saw her do was stand or sit up at the RN station.
Home Health in the States is very expensive and the treating doctor has to write a prescription for it, so there has to be a great need or insurance won’t cover it. But then there’s the outrageous cost for the co-pay. I am unsure if fear of falling would qualify, though Neurosurgeons don’t like us falling after a procedure, so maybe…