One of my concerns is what's called a “first bed policy” at a nursing home: an older adult in acute care may be transferred to the first available bed. That means that it may be 30 or 40 kilometres or miles away from where their family is. Although we want to reduce the acute care waiting list and free up beds in acute care, the suggestion for the first bed policy really needs to be looked at and examined, because it contributes to increased confusion and delays family relationships being maintained.
I'm sure Dr. Estabrooks would agree.