Ohio nursing homes have been discharging medically fragile patients to homeless shelters instead of arranging proper care — a practice documented by federal inspectors at seven facilities. In one documented case from August 2023, a woman with dementia, diabetes, and a broken leg was left at a Columbus homeless shelter without any handoff to medical staff, forcing shelter workers to call 911. CMS inspectors found that Eastland facility never even contacted the county's psychiatric bed board to find appropriate placement before dumping her at the shelter. Long-term care advocates say this practice is accelerating as facilities face pressure to reduce Medicaid costs and empty beds.