Doctor discharges Mother again. I have worked with her retirement center and the hospital to have her go straight to the skilled nursing section of the retirement center for one week, prior to moving her back to her apartment. She does not like this but we are doing it anyway. We arrive at the center and I walk Mother in where we meet the supervisor in charge who takes us (I swear it was five miles) to her room (the last one on the wing). Having slept for 4 hours last night, I'm really tired by this point. I make the long walk again back out to the car to bring her things back over to the other side of the building to her apartment and, while there, pick up the list of items she requested be brought to her. I walk back to her room. She realizes she left a couple of necessities off the list. I make the walk again to the other side of the property - to her apt. - to gather more items and walk back. By now I'm getting blurred vision and definitely irritable. Back in her room, I settle her in and move some furniture around so she can reach things, kiss her goodnight and walaa! the nurse walks in to tell me I have to take her out. Seems Medicare requires a three night stay in the hospital before they will pay for skilled nursing. Mother is delighted; this means she can go back to her apt. I am definitely not delighted. She spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights in the hospital and that spells 3 nights to me. Ah but! The hospital recorded Tuesday night (ambulance, emergency room, hours of testing) as an 'observation night.' Therefore, she doesn't qualify for the skilled nursing unit and delightedly assures them she will not pay a single penny of her own money to remain there. I begin the process of packing everything up, moving furniture back in place and walking her across property to her apartment. Several more trips follow to bring all of her things back. Begin process of arranging home health care. This, Medicare will pay for. Very nice caregiver arrives for the night. Mother begrudingly admits she likes her but really doesn't need her.