She was scheduled to be discharged Tuesday. But a hospital social worker said hospital staff checked with roughly 90 nursing homes and rehab facilities and none — except one that was 2 1/2 hours away in Muscatine — would take her.The article goes on to interview Donna Red Wing of One Iowa who discussed their recent effort to create a resource guide for LGBT seniors in Iowa. They sent out materials to 50 nursing homes in Iowa. Only three bothered to respond.
Edwards’ legs are wrapped in compresses. She has very limited use of her right arm and needs help getting to a bathroom. She also struggles with mental health issues, including bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorders.
But those conditions aren’t all that unusual in the general population.
Carter said a hospital social worker told him Monday one of the reasons they can’t find a nursing or rehabilitation facility near Des Moines is that Edwards is transgender. He said the social worker told him that facilities are accepting new residents say men don’t want to room with a person who is biologically male but identifies as a woman. Neither do their female residents.
And Medicaid, Edwards’ health care provider, won’t pay for private rooms, except on a temporary basis.
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