Stroke victim taken to homeless shelter

BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- A Boynton Beach, Fla., nursing home allegedly tried to leave a stroke victim at a homeless shelter after her insurance ran out, shelter officials said.

ManorCare officials allegedly drove Thai Hodges, 55, to Westgate Tabernacle homeless shelter, which refused to accept her Thursday night, WPTV, West Palm Beach, Fla., reported Tuesday.

"She was in tears when she got here," shelter coordinator Sylvia Negley said of Hodges. "She didn't know what was going on."

The shelter refused Hodges because it was clear she needed medical care, which the shelter isn't equipped to provide, Negley said.

Hodges was a surgical coordinator at a local hospital until she was paralyzed by a stroke in July, her daughter, Alexis Hodges, said.

"I begged and pleaded with them to give me a few days to find some place for her," Hodges said of ManorCare, which confirmed Thai Hodges was again in its care.

"We are pleased that our staff successfully worked with Mrs. Hodges on her rehabilitation," ManorCare said in a statement Monday. "The center staff is working with the patient, her family and community resources for a safe discharge."