CT orders closure of nursing home where 93-year-old Alzheimer's patient died after hours outside in the snow. Residents given 30 days to find new home

Police say staff didn’t realize Healy was missing until about 4:45 a.m. and eventually found her roughly 20 minutes later, lying unresponsive in the snow approximately 40 feet from the building. They brought Healey inside, attempted to warm her and did not call for help until nearly two hours later, at 6:23 a.m. She was pronounced dead shortly after (1)

A Connecticut Department of Public Health investigation found 14 violations tied to Healey’s death (2), including failures to monitor her known wandering risk, maintain safety systems and secure exits (3).

Now, Connecticut officials have ordered the nursing home, which had already been cited twice in the previous year (4) and costs from about $13,400 a month (5), to close by April 10, leaving 36 families with roughly 30 days to find new care, according to reporting by Western Mass News (WFSB).

Healey’s death is not only tragic, but also serves as a warning about how quickly these nursing home facilities can be closed down, leaving families scrambling to find a suitable replacement.

The implications — and residents’ rights

When a nursing facility closes, families can grapple with various stresses.

One critical concern is “transfer trauma,” a condition in which elderly patients, particularly those with dementia, experience physical or cognitive decline after relocation (6).

According to the University of California’s Institute for Health & Aging, risks include falls or hospitalization, confusion or memory loss and depression or withdrawal.

There’s also the difficulty and cost of finding a suitable alternative. Challenges include:

• Limited Medicaid beds. Many residents rely on Medicaid, but facilities that accept it often have waitlists (7).
• Higher private-pay costs. If no Medicaid or suitable bed is available, families may have to pay out of pocket temporarily.
• Relocation expenses. Transportation, deposits and administrative fees can add up quickly.

Federal law requires nursing homes to provide at least 30 days’ notice and ensure a safe discharge process (8). This includes sharing medical records with the next provider, preparing residents for transfer and coordinating the move to another facility.

In the case of Bickford, the Department of Social Services (DSS) is handling relocations and Medicaid placements.

State agencies ask families to list preferred homes, but not everyone will get their first choice. Some families may face longer travel, fewer services or higher out-of-pocket costs for private solutions until a suitable home is found (9).

If you’re having trouble, it’s worth contacting your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman (10). These independent advocates help resolve disputes and guide placement decisions and offer their services for free.

How to choose a new facility

Healey’s experience underscores the need for caution when choosing a nursing home. And that doesn’t just involve visiting facilities. Research can also be conducted by checking out:

• Medicare’s Care Compare ratings (11).
• Recent inspection reports.
• Staffing levels.
• Dementia care services.
• Safety systems like wander prevention.

Sometimes, it’s assumed quality carries a higher price, but that’s not necessarily true. Monthly costs at Bickford started from about $13,400, despite the facility being ranked in the bottom 20% nationally in federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ratings and carrying a one-star quality score (12).

The national average, meanwhile, is $11,294 for a private room and $9,842 for a semi-private room, according to data from Senior Living (13).

What to do if there are no beds

Even if beds exist statewide, finding one that accepts Medicaid, meets medical needs, is reachable for the family and is well-rated can be difficult on short notice.