I don't want that responsibility. She and other ombudsmen provide families with a list of the names, addresses and phone numbers of area nursing homes. The list also identifies each facility's specialized programs and available therapies. Ombudsmen also let people know about alternatives to nursing homes, such as home health care and assisted-living facilities. Local hospitals have a social worker or case manager to work with families to plan the next step in their loved one's care after medical treatment is complete.
Patients also can move home, with home health care if needed.
Usually the planning begins about a day after an elderly patient is admitted to the hospital. They also give families a list of area facilities and ask them to pick their top three or four. Once the selections are made, the hospital representatives call nursing homes to check for availability. Parkview Hospital case manager Joni Hissong said she educates many families and patients on Medicare. A lot of patients don't know what Medicare pays for or what their supplement covers.