Palliative care?
 

Hello , I had someone who has been advising me through this W/C injury to check on the possibility of palliative care on an as needed basis . My question is does anyone here use this service and if so to what extent . My understanding is you can have assistance with home care , transportation , etc. , I already use the driver service for Dr. Appts. as there is no way I could drive to and sit and wait for doc without having to take something to ease the pain . And I do not want to be driving in that situation . The reason I ask is some days I feel like I can function enough to do most of the needed tasks (but pay for it later) , and I do not want to totally give up the independence . My wife works part time and my youngest child is going back to college this Fall so I will be here alone quite a bit . We live in a very rural area and there is not any public transportation available . Just wanted to get some thoughts , or ideas on this matter . Thank you all !

From what I know palliative care is for treatment of symptoms and pain when a cure is not possible.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Palli...ient=firefox-a

I think the transportation help comes under another section. but I could be wrong.
double check on your state website for the transportation assistance info.
I think they will reimburse you for any transportation.

but it's been a few years and I am in a different state.

Do you have a wc atty to help you with your claim?

Ref Palative Care
 

Thank you for responding , yes I have already received a permanent total disability rating with W/C and am receiving full benefits . My claim was processed very quickly and without much delay , and for that I am thankful . I have done both with transportation - being reimbursed and using their drivers . But was wanting to see if anyone had any other assistance they used for the things that are difficult to manage now , such as housework , keeping up the yard , etc. Take care !

I've read that a few on other forums here have home care helpers, but they are still in the wc process - and I don't know if they have to fight to get those things approved by wc ..:confused:

Hello and Welcome. I'm glad you are receiving assistance for your W/C injury. I'm not familiar with the workings of that, but just a thought-keep using a driver service-never compromise your life and that of others by driving with meds in you. My Dr. gave me a 4 hours window in which I can drive. Never risk it. I've even left my car in parking lot and had husband come and get me, so as not to risk driving and taking pain med. I had gotten dizzy, so decided not to drive home.
I'm so sorry you have RSD. It's tough, but we can use ou skills to help others, enjoy your posts, take care of yourself. One of your new friends, loretta

In Massachusetts, for insurance to cover homemaking services , you would also need to require intermittent skilled care.....nursing, PT, or OT for an acute problem (it could be for an acute exacerbation of a chronic problem, but not for a stable chronic problem)

All of the things that you mentioned would be private pay situations.

Driving to IME exams is paid for by my WC, but not transportation to my regular pm, neuro, or other MD appts.

Hi RUReady,
 

I have home health care. I have for about 7 years. Susan, my daughter, now provides the home health care for me and a lady with MS.

She does a lot of the house work, she goes to the store for us, and helps us do light yardwork. She isn't suppose to take us anywhere anymore. All of the health care companies here in this town did away with that due to high cost of insurance.

There are places here in town that provide the transportation though too. I don't use it. Susan takes me a lot of times on her own time. With the transportation, it's at their pace and I hear people say they have to sat places longer until the van gets back to get them.

You can call your local Social Service office and they should be able to give you the names of the companies that provide the services.

Susan's one client lives out in the county but she still drives out there every day to take care of her. I don't think that would be an issue for you if you are elegible for the home health care.

When Dad was bedridden, a nurse also came twice a week to check on him and I believe they do for Susans' other client since she has went down hill so much.

There are a lot of programs out there to help, you just have to go looking.

Ada

Palliative is end of life care
 

If you're at the stage where you no longer wish to extend your life by going through more medical treatments and additional medication, then perhaps it's time you look into palliative care. I spoke with my doctor about it just a few months ago and I know that's a direction I will be heading.

When I was a volunteer with Hospice, I learned that palliative care is basically nothing more than comfort care. No medications that eradicate or extend the persons life are given. Instead only good patient care and pain management are provided during this last 6 - 12 months of life.

It sounds like you're looking for home health care. There is a world of difference between the two. Here's hoping you find the path that works best whatever direction that might be, Bob.

When I was trying to get Medicaid they tol me my SSD check was $20 too much a month to qualify. They said the only way I would qualify is if I needed a home health nurse. So, they sent a nurse to the house & I qualified for a home nurse 8 hours a day, 5 days a week & for delivered meals to my house. They also wanted to build a wheelchair ramp & do some other things to the house. Once they told me I qualified, I freaked out & told them I didnt want the nurse. Didnt wana lose what little independence I had. Should have taken the offer!!

Hi firegirl,
 

That would have freaked me out too. I was ok'd for a wheelchair years ago and made the decision not to take it. I spent 4 years in Pt but I wanted to stay out of the wheelchair.

I qualify for more hours then I get from Susan but I chose not to take them due to the kind of people they kept sending me. I had 2 good caregivers before Susan but after them it just seemed harder for them to find good ones.

I am determined to keep going as much as possible. I just sat my own pace but sometimes we do need the help.

Ada

2 types of Palliative care .. I think RUReady was asking about the first due to her wc injury.

[Palliative care (from Latin palliare, to cloak) is any form of medical care or treatment that concentrates on reducing the severity of disease symptoms, rather than striving to halt, delay, or reverse progression of the disease itself or provide a cure. The goal is to prevent and relieve suffering and to improve quality of life for people facing serious, complex illness. Non-hospice palliative care is not dependent on prognosis and is offered in conjunction with curative and all other appropriate forms of medical treatment.

In the United States, a distinction is made between general palliative care and hospice care, which delivers palliative care to those at the end of life; the two aspects of care share a similar philosophy but differ in their payment systems and location of services. Elsewhere, for example in the United Kingdom, this distinction is not operative: in addition to specialized hospices, non-hospice-based palliative care teams provide care to those with life-limiting illness at any stage of disease.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palliative_care

Thanks Jo*mar
 

Thank you Jo*mar for clarifying what I was trying to say . One error in your post is "her" is a he ! LOL.... , I had learned to take on a lot of the domestic duties in our house from being a fireman . I cooked every 3rd day for 10-15 people for 20 plus years while on duty at the fire house . So it carried over to our household . The things I could do blindfolded , I now struggle with at home . The definition you posted is dead on as to the type of assistance I was inquiring about . Thank you again and take care !