My mother has been in hospital for a month. She was admitted with an infection but that is now cleared. For a few weeks before she went down with the infection she was becoming very difficult to mobilise (she has mixed dementia - vascular and AZs). She has now been bedridden for four weeks, catheterised, on IV fluids and oxygen via nose. However, her records say she is eating her meals and drinking (both with assistance because she can't sit up unaided).
Our gut feeling is that her decreased mobility is due to the advanced stage of her dementia. Obviously lying in bed for so long hasn't improved things but its definitely not the root cause of it. My question is how long is the hospital likely to keep her suspended in limbo before they decide this is as good as it gets and make a decision about where she will be cared for. Her current care home have said they cannot take her back unless she can mobilise using a walking frame plus one carer maximum. As it stands there is a very nice ensuite care home room lying empty which could be used by one of the many other patients sitting in hospital waiting for a place. The system just seems ludicrous to me. Does anyone know if there is an average cut off point for bed blockers?
Our gut feeling is that her decreased mobility is due to the advanced stage of her dementia. Obviously lying in bed for so long hasn't improved things but its definitely not the root cause of it. My question is how long is the hospital likely to keep her suspended in limbo before they decide this is as good as it gets and make a decision about where she will be cared for. Her current care home have said they cannot take her back unless she can mobilise using a walking frame plus one carer maximum. As it stands there is a very nice ensuite care home room lying empty which could be used by one of the many other patients sitting in hospital waiting for a place. The system just seems ludicrous to me. Does anyone know if there is an average cut off point for bed blockers?