In a healthy, elderly individual the dangers of hospitalization, including hospital acquired infection, pose too great a risk, especially to a person, not completely recovered from an infectious pneumonia. It also presents an unnecessarily high expense, for care that can well be provided in a step-down unit, nursing facility or assisted living facility. This lady should remain hospitalized, only if she continues to exhibit the signs/symptoms of acute pneumonia.
Wow, just the thought of residing in a hospital gives me the chills...I am usually a resident in one at least every two months for weeks at a time. I wonder if this individual wants the security of being looked after, she has no family it seems. I think that the best choice for her would be an assisted living facility, not quite a nursing home in that the residents can pretty much do their own daily care while looked after by staff to make sure that they are safe. Hospitals are notorious for harboring germs, more so than anywhere. The hospital should enlist their social workers to give Ms. Hannah options for her care, no one should remain in a hospital unless they have to. Just my two cents...Sunny