The Case of the Sudden Therapy

This past week, something strange happened. It started like this: Dad and I were just going into Mom's care center when a woman stopped on her way out and lit up. "OH, hi! How are you guys?? Leo, you look great!" She looked so familiar, but for a second I couldn't place her (I have trouble recognizing people out of context). Anyway, it turned out to be a lovely woman named Megan who was Dad's in-home occupational therapist when he first left rehab. She only worked with him for a few weeks before he was cleared to do outpatient therapy where we are now.

ANYWAY, Megan happened to be doing some fill-in work for the therapy team at Mom's care center. The weird thing was, she told us, "I just finished working with Teddie." HUH? Dad and I were so surprised, we just went with her conversation. She said she'd been helping Mom with her arms (Mom has no strength and can't really lift them) and then told us this would help Mom 'cause she'd heard Mom was getting a new wheelchair. (This is a long strange story, the upshot of which is that her current chair is falling apart, but the care center just keeps patching it. After about a month and a half of them dragging their feet about getting her a new one, Becky finally figured out they thought the chair was THEIRS and didn't want to spend the money. In reality, it's hers and Medicare will pay to replace it! Say it with me people: OY!)

We were quite surprised that even with the new wheelchair the care center was doing therapy again (in theory, they shouldn't because it's not covered anymore under insurance). Mom of course has no idea why it's happening, she just goes along with whatever they tell her. The funny thing is, it's not just OT, but they've actually been making an effort to help her work on walking and getting in and out of her special chair. Just out of the blue.

Dad and I suspect the real reason is that the care center wants to get Mom out as soon as they can. Not that they don't like her or anything, but because of her special needs, she's forcing them to spend money in ways they don't wanna and didn't expect (they figured she'd be out in a few weeks...last winter!). It's all about the $$$, isn't it.

Oh well. It's good for Mom! :)