Opinion: Something’s wrong when your 97-year-old CT grandfather is left in a hospital hallway

Hartford Courant – Friday, May 22, 2026
By Liam McCusker

Liam McCusker is a sophomore at Central Connecticut State University majoring in broadcast sequence journalism.

When my 97-year old grandfather fell, fractured his hip, and was rushed to the emergency room he should have quickly been admitted. Instead, he spent 40 hours in a hallway waiting for a room.

No elderly person who is recovering from a serious injury should have to go through something like this.

Unfortunately, my grandfather’s experience is part of a much larger problem within our healthcare system that patients and families are facing throughout the state. Emergency rooms are overcrowded, hospitals are short-staffed, limited beds are available, and issues with insurance coverage can delay or complicate treatment.

After he was finally checked into a room, my grandfather was discharged after only five days even though he was clearly not in any condition to be by himself. While doctors and nurses work around the clock, the reality is that hospitals are under extreme pressure to quickly move patients through the system because they simply don’t have enough available beds or staff to meet the patient demand.

My family saw this problem again just a few months later. After an eight-hour open-heart surgery, my uncle was also discharged after only five days. He had to return to the emergency room the next day because of artery blockages.

During his treatment, my family and specifically my aunt was forced to deal with another issue that many Connecticut residents know all too well.

Insurance companies decide whether or not certain procedures are medically necessary.

There is a clear problem with a system where families have to worry about whether an urgent test will be covered by insurance and also fear for their loved one’s health.

My aunt filled out a survey after my uncle’s discharge and said that she wanted the hospital to contact her and is still waiting to speak to them. This sends a troubling message about how responsive the health care system is to patients and families.

This is not about blaming our health care workers. Connecticut has some of the most skilled and caring doctors, nurses, and hospital staff who work hard every day and do their best within our system.

The problem is the system itself.

Hospitals throughout Connecticut are continuing to face staffing shortages that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many health care workers left the profession due to burnout, and hospitals are continuing to have a hard time recruiting new staff. Even when there are available beds inside hospitals, they cannot be utilized if there aren’t enough nurses available to care for patients.

Insurance-related delays and restrictions on coverage create additional stress for patients and families. Decisions about treatment should be decided by medical professionals, not by an insurance company who doesn’t feel that a procedure or extended stay is appropriate.

These problems have real consequences. No elderly patient should be left in the hallway. No family should have to worry about their loved one being discharged too quickly. No emergency rooms should be overcrowded because patients cannot be moved into an available room. No patient should have to return to the hospital because of issues that arise after they are discharged while recovering from major surgeries.

Connecticut’s General Assembly and Gov. Ned Lamont must take action. They are the state leaders in charge of making our health care system stronger. This requires a greater investment in staffing, supporting hospitals struggling to meet capacity demands, monitoring insurance policies, and ensuring that elderly and recovering patients are not discharged before they are truly ready.

Health care systems across the country are struggling, but that is not an excuse for inaction. Connecticut residents deserve a health care system where patients are given the care they need, families trust the treatment their loved ones are receiving, and medical decisions are determined first and foremost by the well-being of the patient. Why not?

No family should have to watch their 97-year-old relative spend two days in a hallway waiting for a hospital room without even getting a privacy curtain and wonder why this reality has become acceptable.

Access this article at its original source.