Urgent housing or care placement
- Where you are
- What you need
- 3Your guidance
You've made it — here's the guidance for your situation.
Sometimes the timeline is very short — a hospitalization, a fall, a sudden cognitive change — and you need to find a place for your parent to go quickly. This is one of the hardest situations families face, and there are options even under pressure.
What to do first
Tell the hospital social worker or discharge planner you need help identifying placement options — this is their job and they have resources. Contact a senior placement advisor who has current knowledge of availability and can move quickly. Don't sign anything you don't understand, even in urgent situations.
What to look for when time is short
Current availability — many good facilities have waitlists, so ask specifically about immediate openings Level of care that matches your parent's current needs Location accessible for family visits Whether the facility accepts your parent's payment source
Adult family homes vs. larger facilities
In urgent situations, adult family homes in Washington sometimes have openings when larger assisted living communities do not, so they are worth calling early in the search.
A note on quality
You may not find the ideal placement immediately. A short-term placement while you research more carefully is a reasonable approach — your parent can transition to a better fit once the immediate crisis is resolved.
Next step: the hospital social worker or discharge planner can help identify openings, and Real Property Planning's Find a Professional page lists independent professionals you can contact directly.
Find a ProfessionalYour next questions
Which adult family homes are near us?
Every licensed adult family home in Washington, by city and county, with capacity, specialties and Medicaid contracts.
Adult family home, assisted living or nursing home?
How Washington's care settings differ, and which fits which needs.
What does an adult family home cost?
Monthly costs by region and care level, including what Medicaid pays.
How do we check a home's inspection record?
Finding a licensed home's DSHS inspection reports and enforcement history, and how to read them.