Heidi Friedman.

Reports of tragic deaths at a Florida nursing home in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma brought to the forefront public concern over ensuring loved ones are placed in the right facilities. While most people are aware they need to exercise caution before making major decisions, they often neglect to follow proper steps when selecting a nursing home for someone they love.

In my own family, the facility where my 99-year old grandmother was staying and receiving rehabilitation services through Medicare, advised us that grandma “had reached her potential,” and because Medicare would no longer pay for rehabilitation, she had to be discharged immediately. My grandmother could not return home, as she was no longer safe to live alone. My own family was put under extreme pressure to find a nursing home quickly. With less than 24 hours to place grandma, my mother-in-law frantically started the search to find any nursing home that would accept her immediately.

We notified the facility that there was no safe environment to transfer my grandmother to, and we needed more time to research and find the right nursing home for her. My mother-in-law was surprised to learn that she could ask the hospital for the time to find a proper place. Hospitals have financial incentives to discharge patients, sometimes notifying family of discharge decisions within days of the date of discharge. Families then feel they must move their loved ones immediately. This is simply not true. When notified that your loved one is being discharged, you can request time to find the best location to move them.