Not COVID related, but my 90 year old father has kidney failure and is currently at a hospital in San Antonio. Currently, they are doing palliative care but he will need to be moved from the ICU. He was living in an assisted living place that does not have a higher level of care. My sister is there but she seems overwhelmed and could use some help with finding a nice place for him. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

I know personal references may carry a higher comfort level but has the hospital offered any options?

The hospital social worker/case manager would be a good resource for her. They can't recommend a specific place, but they might be able to answer questions about which hospice agencies have dedicated facilities versus those that work with nursing homes/skilled nursing facilities. They should've already supplied a list of local hospice agencies.

Recommend first trying to find a hospice agency that runs their own facility, if possible. If not, try to find the best nursing home or skilled nursing place in the area within a reasonable travel distance and find a hospice agency that will be able to go there. Make sure to ask about visitation policies as each facility is going to be different.

Hospice people are generally great, but if your loved one goes to a nursing home on hospice, the nursing home staff essentially does most of the care. Our experience with my grandmother in this situation was great, but every NH is different.

I only have second hand info from my sister. She said, she had to find one and there are not ones she is aware of. She said, she needed to find a nursing home. I tried to ask if the hospital has an advocate, and she was a little short with me. So I know the stress is getting to her. I was just hoping that someone might have some better and more current info. My mom past away a few years ago and was in a facility that is no longer there.

Prayers for your father and your family.

Unfortunately all the social workers and hospital staff are able to do, for legal reasons, is to provide a list of local hospice agencies and nursing homes. It does put a lot of burden on families to do research and make decisions. Sorry y'all are going through this.

Thanks. It is difficult to help, when I have been living in TN for 30 years to know much of what is going on in SA.

Send a pm to trouble. She used to be a hospice nurse.