Trying to get a wheelchair ramp
About 2 weeks ago when we spoke with the Geriatric Dr. who handles the nursing home, I told him my intention was to take my b/f home after he got sufficient rehab.
He said to me "if you take him home, you will eventually need a wheelchair ramp, because of his condition, which will only get worse".
I had already done some work researching getting a ramp, and was told the VA would pay for a ramp, even if the home is not owned by the Vet.
So, then Dr. sent an e-mail to the Social Worker at the nursing home to get me a wheelchair ramp. She didn't really know what to do, but forwarded it to prosthetics, whom I had been told orders the wheelchair ramps.
I went to see the manager at prosthetics, who told me there are 2 ways to get a ramp. One is the Dr. orders it, and the VA arranges for it to be installed. These ramps must be metal. As I do not have 32 feet in front of my house (the length needed due to the height of my porch), I didn't think I could have a metal ramp. But, I was informed they can do landings and turns with the metal.
I could have a wooden ramp built by applying for grant money under a program to retrofit a house to make it handicap accessible. However, the "ramp guy" told me I should save that money to use to modify my bathroom if needed, etc.
So, the "ramp guy" found the message from the social worker asking for a ramp, but he said he needed an evaluation from PT. So I thought he was going to send it to them, but honestly now I don't remember.
Anyway I think I went back and asked the social worker to resend it to PT. But I guess she didn't really know how to do it, because a week later there was not PT request for a ramp.
Oh, and another thing, the staff at PT was under the impression a ramp could not be ordered if the house was not owned by the VET.
I am so tired of getting the run around, and fighting with everyone, just to get them to do their jobs.
But, I went back to prosthetics, and found out the primary care Dr. is the one who needs to put in the order for a ramp. So yesterday the person I spoke to on the phone said she would put in the order for the ramp.
We shall see.
He said to me "if you take him home, you will eventually need a wheelchair ramp, because of his condition, which will only get worse".
I had already done some work researching getting a ramp, and was told the VA would pay for a ramp, even if the home is not owned by the Vet.
So, then Dr. sent an e-mail to the Social Worker at the nursing home to get me a wheelchair ramp. She didn't really know what to do, but forwarded it to prosthetics, whom I had been told orders the wheelchair ramps.
I went to see the manager at prosthetics, who told me there are 2 ways to get a ramp. One is the Dr. orders it, and the VA arranges for it to be installed. These ramps must be metal. As I do not have 32 feet in front of my house (the length needed due to the height of my porch), I didn't think I could have a metal ramp. But, I was informed they can do landings and turns with the metal.
I could have a wooden ramp built by applying for grant money under a program to retrofit a house to make it handicap accessible. However, the "ramp guy" told me I should save that money to use to modify my bathroom if needed, etc.
So, the "ramp guy" found the message from the social worker asking for a ramp, but he said he needed an evaluation from PT. So I thought he was going to send it to them, but honestly now I don't remember.
Anyway I think I went back and asked the social worker to resend it to PT. But I guess she didn't really know how to do it, because a week later there was not PT request for a ramp.
Oh, and another thing, the staff at PT was under the impression a ramp could not be ordered if the house was not owned by the VET.
I am so tired of getting the run around, and fighting with everyone, just to get them to do their jobs.
But, I went back to prosthetics, and found out the primary care Dr. is the one who needs to put in the order for a ramp. So yesterday the person I spoke to on the phone said she would put in the order for the ramp.
We shall see.
Labels: VA, wheelchair ramp
posted by Confessions of a Caregiver at
10:30 AM
1 Comments:
It's a good thing to know that she would put in the order for the ramp.
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