DEAR SOMEONE ELSE’S MOM: This isn’t the first time someone I know has ended up as a patient. As a physical therapist assistant, the odds are fairly high someone you know will need rehab or other kind of treatment at some point. I’ve even had relatives come through from time to time. Add to these odds the fact I work at one of only three PT practices in the county, and familiar faces are guaranteed.
What is different now is my neighbor three doors down, one of the sweetest, pleasantest people you could meet, has been bringing her 87-year-old-husband to where I work for his post-surgical rehab. Before becoming a patient, I did not know Mr. K. as well as his wife, but I knew him to be friendly. He is the kind of guy the neighborhood kids, including my own, stop to talk to if they see him out walking or sitting on his porch.
After Mr. K. was discharged from our PT services, Mrs. K. came to my house and asked me if I would come to their home to do more therapy sessions for Mr. K. for cash payments, so they would not have to deal with insurance.
This put me in an awkward position. There are limits placed on PTAs, and my practice highly discourages this kind of thing, as my supervisor made very clear when one of my colleagues asked about a similar situation involving a relative not long ago.
I told Mrs. K. all this, and that she should speak to Mr. K.’s doctors to see if they would write him for more sessions, especially since Medicare would cover the therapy.
I could see how upset she was because she said it was getting harder and harder to get around and get Mr. K. out for appointments. I told her home healthcare visits may be possible, but she would really have to cover that with the doctors. That still did not make her any happier.
Ever since our conversation, Mr. and Mrs. K. have been very cool to not only me, but the rest of my family as well, which embarrassed our daughter when they clearly ignored her when she was with some friends.
Do you think it’s worth my approaching them again to let them know I would help if I could, but my hands are tied? --- CAN’T HELP THEM
DEAR CAN’T HELP THEM: I don’t believe anything would make a difference right now, short of you caving in and doing what you’re not permitted to do, and that doesn’t seem worth it just to unruffle your neighbor’s feathers.
Hopefully as time passes the hard feelings will soften.
You did what was right, and you shouldn’t feel wrong about sticking to it.