It is the primary duty of nursing homes to provide safe accommodations and expert medical care to their residents. Millions of elderly people and vulnerable people in the US are cared for in nursing homes. Unfortunately, nursing homes are somehow restricted in the amount and complexity of medical services they can provide to residents.
They provide assistance to those who need it temporarily or permanently, but occasionally, depending on the patient’s condition, they may require better or more specialized care than the facility can offer. You always have the option to move or release your relative in this situation, but only in specific situations.
In this article, we will walk you through the process of how to transfer someone from a nursing home to another and other things you need to take into consideration. Keep reading!
What is a Nursing Home?
It is a facility specifically made for the elder or people with a special condition or disability. Depending on the resident’s condition and his needs, a nursing home’s qualified staff will tend to him or her.
Usually, their service is 24 hours a day, so you should not worry about lack of staff or care, because they are trained to attend them as much as they need.
Reasons to Transfer a Patient to Another Nursing Home
It can be challenging to decide whether to move a loved one to a different nursing home, but you may need to do it if they require better medical care.
Despite the fact that there are other situations that would encourage you to choose the transfer. For example:
- The resident’s health and safety are in danger if the staff does not uphold the required standards for caring for him.
- In case the family needs to move to another place and want to visit the resident or stay close in case of an emergency, transferring to another place can be an option.
- The nursing home is about to stop providing its services.
- if the costs of the present home rise to a point where you are no longer able to afford them.
Things to Consider before Transfer Nursing Home
Check to see if switching nursing homes is the best course of action for you and your parent. You want to make a sound, well-informed decision in light of some of the serious nursing home issues connected to the COVID pandemic.
Before making a transfer commitment, there may be other choices to take into account. Your parent doesn’t necessarily have to remain in the nursing home where they are currently residing. Much depends on how healthy and mentally sound they are, as well as whether they might be able to live in a less constrictive environment. You should get the answers to the following questions before taking any action.
Have you tried everything to find a solution if you are moving your loved one because of subpar or inadequate care? Any long-term care facility is unlikely to see the effects of one complaint. You must be tenacious and insistent.
Speak to the aide supervisor if your parent is having issues with the care provided by the aide. Long response times from aides in nursing homes are a common complaint because of a lack of staff. If there are nursing problems, go to the director of nursing. Seek advice from the therapy director if there are any therapy-related issues.
If it’s necessary, proceed all the way to the nursing home’s director. If you still aren’t getting the results you want, it might be time to change. A report to the state health department or the ombudsman program in your state may be appropriate. You can aid future families in avoiding similar issues by filing a report. The Ombudsman will occasionally conduct an investigation that forces the nursing home to make adjustments.
How to Transfer from One Nursing Home to Another?
Yes, you can move a nursing home resident from one house to another. However, you must adhere to certain rules. Here are important actions that must be taken if the family or elderly person decides to move.
Choose a Desirable Facility
You are expected to choose a few nursing homes or rehab centers where you would like the elderly person to live before making a decision. For evaluating nursing homes, there are many resources available. Nursing homes are rated on a number of factors, including the size of the staff, cleanliness, and safety, by one government website called Medicare Compare. People have the option to share their personal opinions about particular nursing homes on other websites, like Yelp.com.
Apply to the Out of State Facilities
At this point, you will need to request that the current facility’s admission staff send a Patient Review Instrument (PRI) to each of the chosen nursing homes. Be aware that a PRI is the typical medical assessment tool used to sum up a patient’s needs and condition. The chosen facility will assess how well your parents will be cared for, see if it can handle that, and see if there is room for them. You can proceed to the next step as soon as the patient is admitted to a facility.
Transfer the Primary Health Insurance
Remember that the majority of people 65 and older are covered by two insurance policies: secondary insurance, which pays for supplemental expenses and services that Medicare does not cover, and Medicare, which serves as the primary insurance. The Medicare program is the federal government’s health insurance scheme for senior citizens. It pays for medical care, hospital care, and 80% of in-rehab care. All 50 states have access to Medicare, which is run by the federal government.
Transfer the Secondary Insurance
Be aware that some secondary insurance is available nationwide and is easily transferable between states. However, other programs including Medicaid are not. With the help of the Medicaid program, those with little money or assets can receive medical care. Although it is a federal program, each state is in charge of managing it.
Note that every state decides its own eligibility requirements determined in part by a state’s cost of living. There are times when a person may qualify for Medicaid in one state but not in another. Medicaid cannot be automatically transferred because of this. When a person moves to another state and reapplies, it is expected that they will drop one plan.
Apply for Medicaid
A person cannot be eligible for Medicaid in two states at once. In order to apply for Medicaid in another state, a resident must first exhaust her Medicaid coverage in the first state. Since Medicaid coverage cannot be terminated until the end of the month, it is essentially ideal to disenroll at that time.
Move to the New Nursing Home
Remember that the transition between the two facilities is the simplest part of the process. This can be coordinated through the nursing homes. It can be done by employing an ambulette to transport the patient or by having the patient escorted to her new location by plane.
Conclusion
Transferring nursing home residents from one state to another can be a challenging process. It necessitates meticulous coordination and planning. All of the steps are doable, though, and with the assistance of nursing homes and knowledgeable experts, the task can be completed quickly and effectively.
