bank allowing child to claim dead parent account

this seems crazy to me so was curious if anyone had success with this. State is PA. deceased parent had 10K in the bank when they died and the nursing home wants the money. there will be no estate opened as there are no other assets to distribute. the nursing home told the child to take the death certificate to the bank and get the money and pay them. the child did that and the bank said bring back proof the funeral was paid (didnt care about cemetery) and they will give the child the money

seems bizarre and too easy and too good to be true. nursing home also said if medicaid doesnt get approved the child will owe the nursing home