Thanks Merrill and everybody else for your responses. I have pursued getting help from county but have been denied due to income. My husband will be able to receive SS this month and the county will be able to take just his income into account, but even his SS is too high per the medical assistance guide lines. MA guidlelines you can only make 600 a month, its ridiculous.
FYI - The nursing homes we have been pursing and turned down from are Skilled Nursing Homes. Does anyone live in an assisted living setting? If so, how does it work? He was in the national guard for one summer, never finished it. Got a general discharge, no one has been able to tell me if is considered a "veterain". I don't think so but am not sure. ~ As far as hiring someone to come in, I can't afford it. My income alone is not enough to continue Cobra and my house payment. Fortunately SS kicks in this month or we would SOL. ~ Did anyone here have/has a trach? If so, were you able to get rid of it at some point? Just wondering if what type of chances my husband has at getting rid of his. They say he will always need it because vocal cords are paralyzed. IT has been 7 months and all he can eat is ice chips. They did start him on E-Stim treatments and he has been trying pudding the past week but asperated on it yesterday so know they aren't going to give him pudding for a while. Has anyone had experince with the E-stim and did it work? They think my husband will always have to wear the trach do to vocal cords. As for me, I never give up hope for him. The doctors have told me "Many" things he would never be able to do, and my husband IS able to do, like breath on his own, operate a wheelchair with his arm because he has tricep strength.... I will look into all the websites everyone has sent, and thanks again for your help. Gotta go for now, I am the process of "painting" room for my husband. He gets to come for day of x-mas, and I am SOOO EXCITED!!!! Many things to get into place for him, so I have to get back to work. God's Blessing to everyone, Kandy ----- Original Message ----- From: Merrill To: 'Kandy Vogelpohl' Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:00 PM Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Resource help Hello Kandy, You certainly have had a life changing experience. I am responding to you off the list posting on Q-List for several reasons. So many issues are hitting you at more directions at once that my first advice to you is take care of yourself. Burning out is a problem to many caregivers and spouses who have not found proper resources to help. There is a foundation here in San Diego which helps financially to adapt homes, and personally to talk with and mentor newly injured people. If out side of the area I do not know if they extend the same help but you will find them at www.headnorth.org . Once at the sight go to CONTACT, then request or phone from the information there. At his injury of C4 life is going to get much better, believe it, but mean time you must learn not to do everything by yourself. Advertise for a CAN if you can afford one. In many states the county will give assistance paying for much of the help. See a social worker from the hospital your husband is at to help get orientated. Most facilities have one or will direct you to one. Get yourself connected to seek support through this experience. This is good advice now and as you go on. An internet site which will become an important help to both you and your husband is www.survivingparalysis.com. After 18 years of my injury this is a place I have found to be one of the better internet support and help sources. When you hire help do not be afraid to interview as many people that you can before you hire. When you find an experienced aid you always still need to instruct them. Do not assume people know things or even more than you or your husband. regardless how confidant they seem to be. This will likely be the most important person in your husbands day next to you. If I were you I would not wait any longer if you can afford one. Hopefully I have helped you. You need help now and you will get through this in short time. Do not get discouraged, do find a good caregiver to help, and begin to seek county and state help. Tough to be in the country but seek out community resources and help where you can just as you did by writing to the Q-List. If you feel I can help do not hesitate to ask but as you see, having a spinal injury is a learning in process no one person can help. Try to involve your husband as much as possible. Do not allow him to become passive even at this stage in the injury. Interview help in his presence, and involve him more and more immediately. Right Toto, "We are no longer in Kansas." Merrill ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Kandy Vogelpohl [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 2:02 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [QUAD-L] Resource help Hi, my name is Kandy. My husband was in a car accident on 5/10 and has been been in hospital ever since. He has a C-4 complete injury. His injury is quad with trach dependence. His vocal cords are paralyzed but can tolerate speaking valve for about an hour 3 times a day. Currently he is not eligible for MA (got knocked off because insurance is paying at 100% at this time, and our income is too high.) I have recently lost my job, need to continue Cobra coverage so we have health insurance. But still do not meet the guidelines for MA. I am currently trying to get husband into nursing home to continue his therapies. He has been turned down by 37 nursing homes mainly due to his care needs. Since he does not qualify for MA, he don't qualify for CADI/CAC waiver services. I am trying to bring him home, but need home modifications and a nurse. I am currently learing all his cares which include trach cares, peg tub cares, meds, bowel management... ~ The only problem with that is that his cares at this time are 24/7, and some point I need to be able to sleep. I have enlisted volunteers which have put in a door and built a ramp but our house is old farm house with small rooms and doors that will not accomodate him. IF anyone has any state or federal resources they can give me, it would be greatly appreciated. We live in Minnesota. He cannot receive medicare until November of 2010. Any suggestions out there? I just want to get my husband home. Thanks, Kandy
