Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk: Extra time in the hospital to get stronger

Sometimes, your loved one is going to be discharged from the hospital, and you feel that person is not ready to come home. You can refuse discharge. Every state has a quality innovation network quality Improvement Organization. These government agencies help people with Medicare and Medicaid. See http://www.tiny.cc/QINmap.

KEPRO handles Florida, Georgia, etc. Kepro, 844-45-9708. It is a beneficiary and family centered family quality improvement organization that can help you.

Quite simply, this is how it works and I tried it with my mother a few years ago. The hospital gives a discharge order. You refuse the order. You call KEPRO for an appeal. A KEPRO physician reviews your loved ones record. The beneficiary and facility are notified of their decision.

Here is the cool part. You almost cannot lose. Reviewing the case takes 1- 2 days, sometimes longer if a weekend is involved. Your loved one receives two days of care in the hospital. You are not charged anything for the extra days, because they cannot charge you during an ongoing appeal.

While most seniors face major adjustments when transitioning to an elder-care community, Jewish seniors face additional challenges. Not only do they lose their homes, and many of their friends, but they also lose ties to their cultural heritage. This is where the Jewish Pavilion, a 501(c)3 non-profit, steps in. The Pavilion provides friendly room visits, and festive holiday celebrations to 450 Jewish residents in fifty facilities for seniors. The Jewish Pavilion promotes inclusion, and thousands of seniors of all faiths are welcomed into our programs. http://www.JewishPavilion.org.

The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) has helped over 10,000 callers. This free information and referral service alleviates caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues. http://www.OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org.