Originally posted by josepht:
A facility for vent patients is not her only option. Medicare or Medicaid should pay for home care. If you go with a good provider like Maxim (
http://www.maxhealth.com/services/homecare.asp), you'll be provided with competent Licensed Practical Nurses and a Registered Nurse on call at the office. Both will be familiar with vents and trachs.
Keep in mind, most people are not approved for 24/7 home care on a long-term basis. (Usually, a nurse is provided 24/7 for a short time to enable the patient and family to become comfortable with carrying out the patient's care themselves.) It is just too expensive. However, most of the time she will have a nurse. It all depends on her needs, and the needs of the family.
Home care will require some commitment from your family. Since 24/7 nursing is not likely, someone will need to be with her and be familiar with her care during the times a nurse is not provided.
If funds are not a problem, you could pay for nursing out-of-pocket for the hours insurance will not cover.
As a vent patient with home care nurses, I can be of some help. Not knowing a whole lot about your sister and your family, I would guess that she would be approved for 56 hours of care per week. The family and patient will be able to decide when and how they will use those 56 hours. The family is the one who decides how long shifts will be and on which days a nurse will come.