Ask Jennifer...

Jennifer Meagher RN is a Geriatric Care Manager and Registered Nurse. She had a 21 year nursing career at Genesee Hospital, she was the primary instructor for a local Home Health Aide training program and for the last 10 years, Jennifer has been a Geriatric Care Manager, and is owner of Senior Life, a Geriatric Care Manager firm. She is a member of Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly and is called upon by local attorneys as an expert in Geriatric cases.

Jennifer knows what you are going through. She was primary care giver for her own mother who suffered with Alzheimer’s for 12 long years.

www.SeniorLifeGCM.com

Ask Jennifer your geriatric care questions and she will respond and possibly post your answer here on www.News10NBC.com. Click here to ask Jennifer your question

Dear Jennifer,
My father was in the hospital for 2 days in the emergency department. The hospital advised that he go for some rehabilitation at a nursing home. His insurance won’t cover any of it because they say he wasn’t really admitted to the hospital. What gives? Can you explain that to me?

- Frustrated

Dear Frustrated,
This frustrates me, too!  Your regular health care insurance will kick in to cover some or all of rehabilitation if you are admitted to the hospital for 3 full days or more. There’s a catch to what I just described. That’s 3 full days of a formal admission. Generally, time spent in the emergency is not considered an admission to the hospital. Emergency room time is generally considered “observation” time or acute treatment and release. Emergency departments are outpatient treatment areas unless the hospitalist doctor determines an admission is necessary. Let’s say Mr. B. spends 1 day in emergency and 2 days admitted to the hospital. That only adds up to 2 admitted hospital days. It’s today’s version of new math. In the hospital 1 plus 2 can equal 2.  Call your insurance company if you still have questions.

Good luck!
Warm Regards,
Jennifer

Jewish Senior Life, Rochester’s premier authority on healthy aging, is the preferred starting point when you or a loved one requires services or support.

Serving Rochester’s seniors and their loved ones, Jewish Senior Life is dedicated to promoting healthy aging by creating environments that foster independence, further self-fulfillment and achieve whole-person wellness. We offer a continuum of senior living – from independent living at The Summit at Brighton, and assisted living at Wolk Manor, to long term and transitional care at the Jewish Home, as well as a host of community services to meet the needs of individuals who live on our campus, as well as to seniors who live out in the greater community.

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The Center for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR) is a not-for-profit, community-based advocacy and service organization for people with all types of disabilities. Its focus is on consumer control and advocacy for the full integration, independence and civil rights of people with disabilities. CDR has achieved many advocacy victories on behalf of the disability community while continuing to grow in size and strength as a service provider.  We encourage those who want to remain independent, integrated members of the community to contact CDR at 585.546.7510 or visit us at www.cdrnys.org.

At the Law Offices of Richard Kroll, our firm limits its practice to representing and advising clients in the areas of Elder Law, asset protection planning, estate planning, probate and contested probate, Wills and Trusts.

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