Personal Senior Advocates

Facility Discharge Appeals

Did you know that over 80% of seniors are discharged from rehab before they feel they are ready?

Although being in a rehab facility is not a pleasant experience, it is critical that you feel safe to manage on your own once you return home. The therapy goals set for treatment during a rehab stay, do not take into account what the patient wants. Why not?

Your insurance company typically has a set amount of days they will cover and the treatment plan is established by a Physical Therapist and Physician you have never met. How many days will you need to be there? The average amount of time your receive with a therapist is approximately 30 minutes a day. What about the other 23 hours each day? Do you have the option to receive your therapy at home? There are so many questions!

Having an Advocate to speak on your behalf will ensure you know what questions to ask and have a say in the treatment plan. If appropriate, your Advocate can appeal the scheduled discharge until you feel you are safe returning home, because your safety should always be the goal.

Premature discharges lead to 40% of post-op complications occurring at home.

Why would anyone need to leave a nursing home to go to a doctor’s appointment?

Legally a facility doctor in a Nursing Home only has to see a patient once every 30 days unless the nurse notes in your chart that an issue requires the doctor’s attention.

Bet you didn’t know that having great insurance can actually be dangerous.

Seniors can be stuck with large medical bills when the hospital doesn’t Admit them. Admission vs. Observation?

Unscrupulous medical billing practices will often reflect a “balance due” on a bill when the insurance company has already been billed.

Privately paid caregivers that provide care in your home are not legally allowed to assist you with your medications.

When you are in the hospital, you may request that routine lab work be done during your waking hours, not the middle of the night.

You have guaranteed rights as a patient? Do you know what they are?

The ratio of patient to staff in a medical facility is not regulated.

Why do they take photos of your body when you’re admitted to a nursing home/rehab facility?

Drug resistant infections acquired during a hospital stay have increased 230% since 2001.

A new patient has their belongings logged by the staff. The same staff reconciles the list. See The Potential Problem?

Discharge planning begins when you arrive at the hospital, and you should be included in the planning process.

When Seniors are discharged from a hospital, they are told they are going to “Rehab”. No one tells them that this really means they are going to a Nursing Home.

Facility Discharge Appeals

Admission Assistance

Transition Assistance

Facility Care Oversight