Rehab not an option?

[Daniiegirl]

My father,43 years old, had a stroke 2 weeks ago, he has been in the hospital since the stroke. today i am told that he is going to be released and rehab is not an option for him. why is that? he does not have insurance, and SSI is working on his case? is rehab only for thse with insurance? is there anything i can do, or what other options are there?

[3467789]

Hi there. My mom had a stroke at 73 years old. Lived by herself and was quite independent before. After a stay in the hospital for 6 weeks we were told that she would never meet the requirements for a rehab program. She was sent to a nursing home but the family continued doing her exercise that we found helpful from the Internet and we used therapeutic needles daily to stimulate the nerves on her bad side. After a period of 5 months and getting her on a antidepressant we were able to get her to rehab. We were told first that she wouldn't live. And when she did we were told she was practically blind and that she would NEVER be able to wheel a wheelchair. Well guess what she just took 20 steps yesterday. You can prove these doctors wrong!  But it takes a lot of work. We fought with my mom
and demanded her to exercise. Often she said she didn't want to but that's where family needs to recognize depression. Getting her on
An antidepressant would have never happened if we didn't push for it. Nursing homes don't care they toilet you and feed you and that's it. Constantly stimulate the week side and try not skipping a single day. Te therapeutic pad with needles on it we believe helped my mom. The medical team are shocked by her recovery.

[Laurie96]

Can anyone tell me what a medicaid patient is entitled to in terms of physical, occupational and speech therapy.  My boyfriend at 47 has had his second stroke on January 30, 2013.  It is now November and he is still in a nursing home in Long Term Care unit and not receiving ANY rehab.  The reason the home gives is that he has "plateaued".  People I have spoken to have said that he should still be receiving therapy.  I realize that he is now on medicaid, (he lost his job, home, everything due to this stroke) and is being treated like a second class citizen!!  He is getting very depressed.  Thank you!

[Coffeebean208]

Hi
I'm very sorry about your father's stroke. My grandmother just had a stroke 1 week ago, but luckily the damage was minimal for her.
I have heard of a clinic based in Birmingham Alabama. It was started by Dr. Taub. He has been known to successfully treat patients that were told that they were "untreatable" and had to accept their new level of functioning. Dr. Taub has done much study into the regaining of some functioning after strokes, but the sooner your father can get treatment the better.
Maybe Birmingham is far away for you, but I heard that they can help.
All the best & good luck!

[DLink123]

My mom had a similar situation.  We didn't bother with medical insurance as she was going back to Korea after a year and she would have insurance there, but alas, a sudden stroke at the age of 47.  

My mom was released from the hospital after 5 days, and after I did some thorough research, I learned that usual Stroke patients are supposed to DIRECTLY take rehab as an outpatient, or stay at the hospital while taking rehab as an inpatient.

However, hospitals are wary of recommending this when the patient does not have insurance, as they are afraid that we cannot afford it.  In fact, I had to contact the hospital 3 times (and it's an excellent hospital w/ lots of awards so no bs here), to get the story straight, and in the end, it seemed like there would be no rehab/therapy available for my mom.  

It was ridiculous.  She needed therapy right away and it was obvious, and yet the doctors were being negiligent because we didn't have insurance.  Luckily we found a physical therapist close by through a friend of my mom's, and right now we are paying $50 an hour for a physical or occupational therapy session.  My mom is recovering well.

Also, one day we decided to go back to the hospital to see what their physical therapy was like, so I called the Physical Therapy line directly (not through the main line - don't ever do that they have no idea what the hell they are talking about) and went in for a tour.

Unlike the stupid answers the main line gave us, the Physical Therapists set the story straight.  The hospital main line gave us this ******** talk like:  "Oh you have to apply for a clinic card...you have to wait 3 weeks...pay money...blah blah"

Physical Therapist @ Same Hospital Answer:  "Just come in, and if you don't have insurance you can just pay out of pocket".

Now this can get very expensive at the hospital...my hospital had a very nice discout program available, but still.  (Be aware that some hospitals don't).

If you have further questions, please post.  I'll do my best to help

[maureenannf]

Hi everyone,  I'm sorry for all my fellow survivors and caregivers out there.  I had the ITB Pump implanted last November although I'm glad It really help with pain and conrtolling spacisity,  I 'm still not walking.  I'm wondering if anyone who had this implanted and is now mobil  what is your pump set at.  Currently mine is at 400.  best wishes to all.

[maureenannf]

I am sorry about your father's stroke.  I've had my stroke two years ago
and I've been in a chair since. Is your dad walking?  One doctor told me very early on" There is always something that can be done" Rehab is a good starting point,  I do not know about the insurance, luckily I have a partner who handled all that stuff for me,  I wish you and your family Luck and Good Health.