My family's story involving Jacksonville Health and Rehabilitation in Jacksonville AL…read more
My relative required step-down care from VA Birmingham hospital, as they were not well enough to discharge home - the least restrictive care. VA B'ham approved 30-days of rehabilitation care - funding approved required the veteran to actively participate in daily occupational, speech, and physical therapies. My relative was gravely disabled; unable to meet these requirements. Therefore, after 30-days, the VA denied continued funding under this level of care converting the veteran to another type of funding called convalescence care. The VA agreed to pay for up to an additional 30-days under convalescence care while JHR determined if my relative qualified for Medicaid. On a Friday, JHR's benefits personnel notified VA B'ham the veteran was over resourced for Medicaid. Medicaid would be denied. Unbeknownst to the veteran's family, VA B'ham informed JHR convalescence care would be denied; no further payments would be paid by the VA. On that Sunday, I called JHR to speak with the nurse for an update. The nurse informed me JHR had discharged my relative home, as the RN was instructed by her supervisor to discharge the patient as Medicaid would be denied and the VA had denied funding. I was shocked and appalled by this insensitive action. I asked the nurse where was my relative. The nurse indicated my relative was stationed outside their home address in an ambulance that the driver was waiting for someone to come to the door. I sternly instructed the nurse to have my relative brought back to JHR as there was no one there to receive them, nor had the family been included in any level of discharge planning to ensure that proper medical equipment was in place, not to mention homecare, home nursing, and a homecare sitter to help with the necessary ADL's (activities of daily living). My relative was total care and required skilled nursing. JHR was well aware that my relative was total care when they attempted to discharge them home. The nurse followed my directive called the driver to bring my relative back to JHR. Thoughts racing through my mind, how unethical on so many levels. Upon my relative returning to JHR, the nurse conducted an assessment deemed my relative was incoherent, unable to orient in knowing their name, place, time, location etc. The RN called me right away concerned that my relative needed to go to the local ED (emergency department). I approved to have my relative transported to Springfellow ED. Upon being assessed by Springfellow ED, two ER nurses called informing me that my relative was so gravely ill that they needed my approval to coordinate medivac to VA-B'ham. I consented. Within 2hrs of being brought to Springfellow ED, my relative was on a medivac flight to ICU in VA-B'ham. From JHR having discharged my relative to their home to my relative being Medivac to ICU VA-B'ham was all within a span of 5hrs. This incident was je ne sais quoi (a quality that cannot be described) I was in total disbelief this happened. Such lack of care, lack of empathy, lack of treating residents of JHR with some level of humility, dignity, and respect. The following Monday, I placed a complaint with the state of Alabama nursing facility licensing board - located in Montgomery. After a few days of kangaroo investigation, my complaint was unsubstantiated. However, I was informed that my complaint will forever remain on file about JHR. there are times when care and wellbeing should not be driven by profit.
Long-term care, senior care living, families unable to physically care for their loved ones is strained. Very minimal community options. Which places a monopoly for this type of care need.
My unsolicited feedback be creative with funding sources. Apply for grants, funding from foundations and organizations etc. Consider additional paths to being paid. I understand JHR is not a charity. However, there are times when JHR will need to attribute beds as charity due to lack of funding for a resident until a safe discharge plan is in place.