Going Home

By Karen Daniels

Moving out of a nursing home sounds simple to most people, but truthfully, it is far from simple. Betty*, a retired kindergarten teacher, lost her husband and moved to the Cape to be near her son. Betty was renting a small apartment in the basement of a larger home and settled into a routine with visits from her son. After a while, however, her son passed away and she was on her own. Betty had always been in fair health, but as time went on, she began to decline. One day, her mail carrier noticed her mail was piling up. He contacted her landlord and they entered her apartment to find her on the floor. She had been lying there for several days after having a stroke.

After being hospitalized, Betty was sent to a nursing and rehabilitation facility for several months. But she was a fighter and got better. She did not want to spend her remaining years in a nursing home. Unfortunately, she lost her apartment during her stay, leaving her nowhere to go. She also needed ongoing services so she could live in the community.

Betty met CORD’s transition coordinator at the nursing home and asked for assistance to move to her own place. She wanted out. CORD helped Betty apply for several different subsidized apartment complexes. After a few months, an apartment became available! CORD’s work didn’t end there. Betty needed in-home services so she would be able to remain in her new home safely and successfully. By working with local service agencies, CORD helped Betty obtain the services needed and she has been living independently ever since.

Transitioning from a nursing home to the community is a lengthy process. Betty got lucky when an apartment became available at exactly the right time. Most people don’t have their housing search go as smoothly as it did for Betty and end up waiting years to find a place. Finding the services needed to keep people from ending up back in the nursing home can be challenging. It does happen with a lot of patience, some grit and determination, and sometimes a little luck.

Are you living in a nursing home and want to go home? Call CORD at 508-775-8300 (v/tty). We can help.

*name changed to maintain consumer privacy