Here are 40 nursing home statistics to give you a better idea of the factors that impact facilities and their residents.
As people get older, thinking about new living options isn’t out of the question. It may not be as easy to get around the house as it used to be, or they may have health concerns that they can’t manage on their own.
When you think of care for the elderly, nursing homes probably come to mind. These are the second-most used long-term care facility, right after assisted living. Residents receive more attention in a nursing home since they are less independent in their old age.
As more Baby Boomers (the second-largest generation) reach retirement age, more people need extended care.
Different factors contribute to who uses these services. For those who do, they may face new challenges such as financial burdens or new health problems.
Here are 40 nursing home statistics to give you a better idea of the factors that impact facilities and their residents.
There are many different long-term care options, but nursing homes are the most well-known. These facilities exist across the country, but certain states have more or less depending on demographics.
With an increasingly older population, the number of residents will continue to grow. Enough services are necessary to accommodate them, but unfortunately, facility numbers are shrinking. Some older people even have to be caregivers themselves.
As nursing homes are closing, there is also a decreasing number of residents despite an aging population. This could suggest that older people are not receiving the care that they need. Facility closures will be problematic as more people reach the stage of requiring care.
When we think of nursing homes, we imagine patients who are elderly and frail. But these aren’t the only people living at these centers.
People who have reached retirement age have a high chance of needing care even though they may still seem young compared to other patients. Even people under the retirement age utilize these facilities, either temporarily or permanently.
Because women have a longer life expectancy than men, they make up a majority of these homes. The longer they live, the more likely they are to require care.
The family plays a role in older peoples’ care needs. Singleness can contribute to poorer emotional and physical health. Without a companion or someone to help look after them, more single people end up in senior care.
Having more children can also reduce the need for a professional care setting. Children help take care of their parents instead of finding them a long-term care facility. But unfortunately, older people are starting to outnumber children. This trend will continue as the current fertility rate is less than the number of children needed to replace the population.
Housing can be a financial burden to anyone. Nursing homes are even more costly than typical housing since they include professional staff and services.
Now combine this with a retirement budget. This makes for an expensive bill. While there are some coverage options, most residents will be paying part out of pocket. And unfortunately, most of them don’t plan for it with their savings.
Getting older is usually associated with declining health. People are less active, become weak, have more risk for illness, and experience declining memory.
Because they experience more health conditions, older people have a higher chance of needing long-term care. It’s difficult to manage these conditions on their own. But even in nursing homes, they don’t always receive the necessary services or care. And being near other sick patients can increase their chance of getting sick.
Long-term care services can be great for aging patients, especially those who live alone or have chronic health conditions. As the older population grows, one would assume that nursing homes are filling up.
But that isn’t necessarily the case. Even with people living longer, facilities are closing and fewer people use them. It isn’t because adults experience fewer health conditions. There are actually many younger residents who also need care.
However, the cost is increasing and a majority of the retiring generation didn’t plan for these expenses. There’s a common misconception that Medicare will cover all expenses, but most people need to pay out-of-pocket costs.
For those who do afford to receive care, the services aren’t perfect. Being close together to other ill patients can mean disease spread. And even with assistance and supervision, falls are still likely resulting in injuries that can be fatal.
As more people get older, nursing homes need to stay open to accommodate them. Financial help may be necessary especially for those who don’t have family members to care for them. Once patients arrive, they need even more attention because they will only continue to age and may decline.
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