The nursing home crucible
Harriet broke her hip and needed surgery. Post-operatively, the hospital was swift to push her out the door, while Medicare controlled the financial strings. Instead of going home, she went to a nursing home.
During the pandemic, she never saw her family in person, then contracted COVID-19 and died alone.
For over 30 years, I have visited patients in nursing homes, and during this time saw older adults shepherded by the health …