How important is the facility name on a death certificate?

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How important is the facility name on a death certificate?

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I just lost my father, and mom is still alive so this is all new for me. For the last two years, they have both lived in an ALF which is part of a very large age-in-place senior living community (Erickson's Eagle's Trace in Houston TX). The ALF has a different postal address than the independent living areas. The complex at this address also houses a skilled nursing center. So it has the same address as the ALF.

My father was living with my mom in the ALF when he was placed on hospice care, and he passed away in their bedroom in their apartment in the ALF. But the Facility Name where death occurred on the death certificate is "Eagle's Trace Skilled Nursing Home." He has never resided in skilled nursing. When I asked the funeral home about it, their response was that when they entered the address into their system, the skilled nursing home is what came up.

Erickson told me that even though they share the same address, the ALF, the skilled nursing center, and a memory care unit also located at that address are all licensed/accredited separately, with different facility names. So I am concerned that the death certificate is wrong, and wondering what the implications might be.

Does anyone know anything about this or have any suggestions?

Elder Law End of Life

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The perfectionist in me and as an amateur genealogist, I like to see things recorded properly so future generations find the information as correct as possible. Legally, there may be no ramifications but if you can't correct it legally, perhaps attach your own disclaimer to your copy(s) you have so your records will be correct for your descendents. Not really a big deal for most people, but it can show a bit about family history how or why he died. Within the disclaimer you can even tell your version of the basic history of where he died. I sense from your comment the he died in "their bedroom in their apartment" and "never resided in skilled nursing" this is a major part of your concern because it would be for me... especially if he hoped he would never go into an SNF. Not dying in an SNF may be a part of respecting his wishes that you were able to grant and an important memory for you. I'm so sorry for your loss and now having to deal with this. However this turns out, know you did your best for him.

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Hey thanks for the thoughtful response KPWCSC. I too am an amateur genealogist - for two decades - and I use death certificates as supportive documentation for so many ancestral facts. That was clearly something I was thinking of when I posted the question about the legality of having incorrect information on the document.

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It is always advisable to have important documents have the correct information.
One never knows what could come of incorrect information.
It may seem a small matter to some, but I would want it correct.
I am sorry for your dads passing.

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thank you

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Here's how to do it:

Requirements for Changing Vital Records (texas.gov)

and the actual form:

Amendment_Death_Form_Final.pdf (texas.gov)

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thanks !

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I suspect it's for legal and corporate purposes. My first thought was that an LLC is involved, which makes sense.   I did find this:

EAGLE'S TRACE, INC. C/O ERICKSON LIVING MANAGEMENT, LLC on a Linked In page.

The corporation would have different legal and I believe tax issues from the LLC (which is also an entity that also has a different business structure.   LLCs have "members"; corporations have officers.    The former purchase a share in the LLC and reap earnings according to the number of shares.   Corporations are structured differently.

Check your parent's contract and see how the ALF is listed. It should be in the first paragraph of the contract.   That's what I think would be the appropriate designation for the death certificate.

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Unless you are planning on suing the facility, why would it matter ?

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I don't know why. That's why I'm asking.

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Would the skilled nursing home be getting compensation from Medicare if he resided there at the time of his death?

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What does it matter in the big picture? I really and truly don't think there is any legal implications. There are so many other things to focus on that do matter. I'd let it go.

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Yes. I'm a total fish out of water on this subject, but I too am wondering what could possibly go wrong? I mean that sincerely, not sarcastically. I hear people saying "you never know" what the implications of such a mistake could be, but I'm wondering: what, specifically, is the fear? Is it a Medicaid concern, probate court concern, that someone will say "It says here your father resided in X of Eagle's Trace, so we're not going to compensate you for funds spent at Y of Eagle's Trace"?

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Here in California the reason, I was told, was that when a person dies in a place other than a hospital, a home for example, and when you sell said home you must disclose that to the buyer, if you sell the home within three years. It seems that with the records kept at the ALF it would be recorded in which part of the site he was in.
Hugs to you

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My guess is that the mailing address for the facility, in the assessor's records, is the skilled nursing building. Because this is an official government document it may simply be a matter of the address given is the office address for the entire facility.

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In most states, if a person dies of natural causes in a home, that does not need to be disclosed to a future buyer. (We just bought a home where the man living there died in the master bedroom--it does not bother me one bit.)

HOWEVER, if someone commits suicide in a home, that must be disclosed.

In the long run, it doesn't really matter. People enter NH or ALF's..whatever, with the unspoken knowledge that this will be their final living place.

In my small knowledge of determining who's to be paid if someone dies in a NH in the middle of the month I believe you should refer back to the original input documents. Some facilities will refund any prepaid days, some will take the entire month's 'rent' no matter what day a person passed.

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In California you must disclose any deaths within three years of the home sale. I'm getting ready to sell my folks' house, and it'll be interesting to see if it matters to anyone. It's been 3 1/2 years, but the agent is advising we disclose since all the neighbors know and will blab.

How important is the facility name on a death certificate?

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