Before we could address Leslie’s 30 day notice, her leg wound worsened. I took her to the emergency room on the day before Thanksgiving. Her leg was infected with MRSA, an antibiotic-resistant type of staph infection. After 14 days, Leslie finished an intensive course of antibiotics, and surgeons covered the wound with a skin graft.

She was now well enough to leave the hospital, but she literally had no place to go. The assisted living facility had expelled her, and other facilities refused to let her in. Her time was up at the hospital. “I was loaded into an ambulance, not knowing where I was being taken,” she said. “I was being kicked to the curb like a stray dog.”

Thoroughly distraught, Leslie landed in a nursing home, and I was determined that it was only temporary. Her leg was healing nicely, so management agreed to let Leslie return home to Riverchase Village.

Luck was not on our side, and Leslie had an accident that caused her stable condition to worsen. She bumped her leg, a blood vessel burst, and Leslie made another trip to her doctor’s office. On the way back to Riverchase Village, I received a call from management to say that Leslie had been issued another notice. She again faced homelessness.

Coming up next...The conclusion of Leslie's story!

Advocate Tip: MRSA is prevalent in many places, and individuals can be unaware when they encounter the bacteria. To avoid its effects, it is essential to practice good personal hygiene, such as consistent hand washing or using hand sanitizers.