Unexpected hospitalizations often force people and their families to make difficult decisions in short periods of time. After spending a few days or weeks in a hospital bed, an elderly person may quickly weaken and have different needs that require a higher level of care.

Hospital discharge planners, or care coordinators as they are sometimes called, work under tight restrictions and have to arrange for patient discharges at a rapid pace. Because of the way Medicare reimbursements work, the hospital stops receiving payment as soon as the doctor clears a patient to leave. So bear in mind that it is in the hospital's best interest to get you or your loved one out as soon as possible in order to fill your space with a new, paying patient.

This is important to remember for two reasons. First, if you don't understand how the system works and the financial factors governing hospital discharges, you may grow frustrated with your discharge planner and feel like he or she is trying to rush or even force you into something. You will deal with him or her more effectively if you accept that they are trying to help you within their means.

Secondly, knowing what you do about hospital time constraints, you may want to seek advice from someone other than just the hurried discharge planner that has been assigned to your case. A second opinion certainly can't hurt, and chances are it will better equip you to evaluate your options.

There are a variety of sources that you can use to obtain more recommendations on aging services facilities for the elderly. First, talk to friends, relatives, and colleagues in the area about their experiences with different providers. Your Area Agency on Aging is a good source of general information, and your local ombudsman, who as an advocate for nursing home residents, can answer questions about local skilled nursing facilities. Your physician or religious leader might be helpful resources as well. If you are willing to pay their fee, you can hire a private care coordinator who will consult with you and try and lead you through the process of choosing aging services.

Don't let pressures and limitations make you feel as though you have lost all control in the process. Instead, focus on maximizing the resources you have at your disposal and listening carefully to all of the new information and advice you obtain.

Although you have less time to work with and probably less options to choose from, ultimately, the decision is yours. If you aren't satisfied with the options that your discharge planner presents to you at the time of your discharge, ask if you can make short-term arrangements while you continue searching for the right aging services facility.