Ah, thank you for asking if I have other questions. I do. I have so many that I'm thinking to put off the surgery for a week or two, but not yet. I've spoken to Medicare many times today and kind of got the same answers with variations. The upsetting news is that I was under the impression that I could qualify for 28 hours a week for about three weeks with a doctor's prescription. Medicare representatives told me this would be for ADL (Assisted Daily Living) but when I spoke to the home health care agencies here they said no, They said Medicare does not pay for that in terms of having someone stay with me a few hours several times a week to help with daily activities such as getting out of bed -- putting together a sandwich, and other needed activities if I can't easily walk with a walker the first few days. The agencies said they could provide a nurse to assess the situation, physical therapist, and someone to help me wash up for maybe 35-45 minutes. I'm afraid I won't be able to change my underpants for a while, so this disturbs me. The agencies (I called a few because I guess I didn't understand what Medicare told me about home health care) told me that Medicare doesn't provide that for Florida. (Huh?) Medicare said that wasn't true -- that it's the same in every state. But then the Medicare rep said he really didn't know the in's and out's of it -- and one agency told me that Medicare pays per hour, so I don't know what that means. THEREFORE I am thinking I may need to go into a skilled nursing facility for a few days to get used to my situation and have the help I may need. Now I have a few questions more. So if you can put up with me and my ranting, that would be appreciated. Still intending to have the surgery. But! I do have more questions.

Thanks about the suggestion to speak to the social worker at the hospital. I will also call them tomorrow and ask about that. Surgery is scheduled for the 24th. The hospital is ok so far, asking me to come in the day before to go over things with them, so I guess I can ask questions there, too. We have some help to come in for my husband 3X a week. Not cheap but right now we can afford it. I have others I can call. We really don't have family to come in (no children, no siblings), but we do have some friends that can check on my husband to make sure he did not fall. We gave two good friends a key to the apartment if they can't get my husband on the phone. So we're covered that way. I can hire someone I think to come in for a few hours a day, my husband says he can get by. I kidded with him and said he's probably glad to get rid of me for a few days. His sense of humor is not like mine. 🙂 So he didn't laugh. I guess at a certain point I've got to stop fretting and trust God. I believe He's helping me. 🙂 Thanks for your helpful response.

@sueinmn
P.S. I called a couple of skilled nursing rehab centers and asked how will I get from the hospital to the rehab place, they told me if the hospital doesn't arrange for it, they will. So naturally with my personality I have to make sure that I won't be charged extra for that transportation. I don't like surprises. I know I won't be able to drive for a few weeks, I read that it's the pain medication that may stop me from driving as well as not being able to maneuver my leg too well, but I can cope with pain without taking strong medication I THINK. As far as the leg being maneuvered, I'll see about that as time goes on. Thanks again.