SNF wont take my mom as patient. Is this legal, and shouldn't they have to tell you the reason?

If you or your Mom are seen as difficult to deal with, that could be the reason. They might not want that extra stress. No, they don't have to tell you that.

It’s called cherry picking. However, they have the legal right to refuse your mother as a resident. If they told you the reason you might sue!

I don't see why the SNF would have to take anyone or give out a reason. It's a private company. They have the right to refuse service. They can accept who they want or reject anyone for any reason. The only place that I cant think of that has to take anyone is the ER. Doctors don't have to accept patients so why would a SNF? That's why many hospitals say they don't have emergency facilities even though they are fully equipped to handle emergencies. They want to reserve the right to refuse service.

Pure speculation here, but it could be that she needs to be in a SNF permanently. Who's going to pay for that after medicare stops paying? If they know that she will be there permanently, they might not want to take on so much unknown.

As for not telling you why, from their point of view, there's no advantage for them to. Doing so doesn't benefit them at all. Best case scenario, it opens them up to liability. For the same reason, no one should ever tell anyone why they aren't hiring them. It amazes me that so many people do. That's how to hire 101. Never tell someone why your aren't going to hire them. It just opens you up to a possible lawsuit. The less said the better.

As others have mentioned, it probably depends on how your mother can pay, the availability of beds, and her new condition (now, being ready for discharge). If it's a Medicare or Medicaid bed, someone else might have taken her "spot" while she was away. Whatever you do, don't let them discharge her home to you or to her home by herself! Please update us and let us know how things are going.

It's possible that SNF just doesn't have room for your mother at the moment, don't forget. It isn't necessarily anything personal.

If you didn't speak to the SNF yourself: perhaps the person who enquired didn't think to ask why the SNF was saying no, just took no for an answer, and then made it sound as though the SNF was refusing to say.

We were told (by whom?) that the facility she "usually" (???) goes to will not accept her as a patient and (who?) wouldn't give a reason.

Who have you yourself spoken to about this? Where is your mother now?

What's that "usually goes to" all about? Is there some history with this NH that we need to know about to understand the situation?

Last question (promise!) - who has formal, legal responsibility for making decisions for your mother?

Give Social Worker a few choices so you’re not depending on just one place. Tell them you can’t take her home as there’s nobody to take care of her. Just try to get her in a place & don’t worry about why another place wont take her. That is why you have to have a few backups . Hugs 🤗

Who called to make the arrangements for your mom? Did you or her facility? When my mom was in the hospital they recommended that she go for rehab at a skilled nursing facility. The hospital made all of the arrangements. I went in to finalize paperwork but they spoke to them about the placement.

My FIL was not accepted into several facilities. One reason, he needed more care than staff could provide. He caused a lot of disturbances in hospital/rehab. Evidently, we ran out of options. Settled on getting a 2 bdrm, 2 ba apartment close to us & hired a live in caregiver.

SNF using hospital stay to legally discharge her. Legal as long as proper steps followed.