Saturday, April 30

I don't even know how to explain all the Vet Admin stuff and the Medicare stuff and the Area Agency on Aging stuff in such a way that it makes sense, because it doesn't.  Just a quick recap.  We presently have a Home Health Aid coming twice a week that is paid for by Medicare.  Medicare will pay for 60 days and then will only continue if there is a downhill change in the patient.  This is determined by what I report to the agency who in turn keeps these records.    (When the RN came out I learned that I should have been telling them about the night time episodes, every fall and everything else that is not normal.)  OK.  I can do that.

The RN visit this past week was not to evaluate Cowboy, it was to evaluate their Aid.  We like her.  She does a good job.   In two weeks the RN will be back to evaluate Cowboy.

I pay a private agency for Marsha to come out every Wednesday so I can get out.   I pay a cleaning service to come once a month to do the floors, fans, window blinds, etc.  things I have difficulty doing.

We were told by the VA recently that we have reached the top of the waiting list for services.  If we don't tap into the service NOW we will be dropped from list and will have to start over; HOWEVER, where they used to provide respite, light housekeeping as well as Home Health (which is bathing, shaving, etc) now all they can provide is the Home Health service.   One has to suspect this is the result of budget cutbacks and the health care mess.   Then there is the matter that if the VA provides services then the Area Agency on Aging will not.  If we are able to stay on the Medicare plan the Area Agency on Aging can provide respite but only for 8 weeks.

OK.  Two baths a week is not enough.  Four is probably too many.  I have to stay with just the two if I want to ask the Aging Agency for respite care.  Or Cowboy can have 4 baths a week (two from the service and two more from the VA)  and I can continue to pay for respite care. This means at some point the Medicare help may stop and we will be using only the VA and it might be more than twice a week.  I don't think I asked that question.   And of course, since there are 3 agencies involved in all this any way I go we end up with an endless stream of different people providing the services.    AAHHGGG!!  Are you confused yet?
There are overlaps, gaps, rules that don't make sense and a very large amount of bureaucratic nonsense with all of this.  I am sure it is all there to prevent abuse but what it does is leave persons who do qualify feeling abused.

I really don't like the idea of Cowboy or me, for that matter, having to deal with a gazillion different personalities and constant change.

The bottom line is that it is still not sorted out but we are getting there.  Have to make decision for VA by Tuesday, May 3.  Have to make decision for Aging Agency by 17th when they are due to come and do an evaluation.   One good thing is I will know at that point if Medicare will or will not continue.

Cowboy is fine today.  We went to the Dulcimer Jam this morning.  He was ready to after about an hour and 20 minutes but it went OK.  He is taking a nap now.