> Hello,
>
> I'm not a vent user, but I'd appreciate any advice, suggestions you can
> give...
>
> My mother is 63 years old. Twenty years ago she suffered a closed head
> injury. She has some slight movement in her left arm (with a almost
> continuous tremor) and can move her left leg off and on a footstool.
>
> She spends most of her time in a jerry chair, wheel chair or a hospital
> bed. We have 24 hour home care for her. We use a combination of
> caregivers and an occasional home health agency visit. We've been able
> to keep her at home for 20 years with no major problems.
>
> She cannot "speak" because she cannot get sufficient force behind her
> words. She eats table food and drinks. However, ever since the
> accident, she coughs quite a bit when eating and drinking. We have
> never had a problem with her aspirating anything into her lungs.
>
> Now she is in the hospital for a severe urinary tract infection which is
> now under control. She has a trach and is on a ventilator. However,
> they are concerned about her ability to breath deeply enough and
> possible aspirations of food and drink.
>
> The doctor has suggested she be placed in a Vencor hospital in St.
> Louis, MO. We can't seem to get a definitive (or even waffling) answer
> as to how long she may be in Vencor, or if she'll ever be able to return
> home again. I know that many people exist on home/portable ventilators,
> but I'm confused after talking to her doctors and the ICU nursing staff.
>
> Due to my Mom's physical condition, she will not be able to
> maintain/operate the ventilator herself, but I believe that her family
> and caregivers can be trained to do so.
>
> Questions:
> ----------
> Is it possible to go home directly from the hospital, or do you have to
> go thru a Vencor-type facility prior to returning to home care?
I went home directly from the hospital.
> What kinds of things should we be asking Vencor (or any other facility)?
Anything and everything that you have questions or concerns about.
> Do any of you have experience with Vencor - in St. Louis or at another
> location?
Can't help you there.
> I see that a lot of you use home health agencies. We've been told by
> the doctor and the hospital staff that the vent/trach cannot be taken
> care of by a home health agency, but then they say she can go home with
> a vent. Is this double-speak, or what am I not understanding?
They obviously have no experience with home care. I'm on a vent 24hrs a
day, so someone always has to be with me. I guess I should mention, I'm
quadriplegic. In all the years I've been home, I've used nursing agencies
independent nurses and even trained people that have no medical backround at
all. The word "liability" will be the response, but you should inquire as
to why you and some of your mother's caregivers can't be trained on using a
portable ventilator at home, right where she is now. It seems kind of a
waste to have to ship your mother all the way to St. Louis just to get
ventilator training.
> Can you eat/drink orally with a trach/vent in place?
Yes. No problem. I wouldn't think your mother would have problems if she
can already eat and drink.
> Do you have any experience with feeding tubes?
Yes, when I was in the hospital. I don't know if you will need to unless
your mother isn't eating enough. If she only needs it for a short time,
they can feed a tube into your mother's stomach through her nose and then
just remove it. If she needs it long term they will put it directly into her
stomach. This requires more care but it still not difficult to manage.
Eric