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Alternatives to Nursing Homes

nursing home satisfaction
With accountable care organizations on th▨e rise, nursing homes play a key role in the continuum of care. Choosing partners that have excellent resident satisfaction is import🦂ant. Getty Images

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2040, 22% of the population will be 65 and over, which translates to over 80 million people. By 2060, the percentage will be 23%, which translates to almost 95 million people. Between 1960 and 2020, the population of those 90 and over grew from 422,180 to 2.8 million.

Elderly people need different levels of care and therefore require different facilities. The market is opening up for the elderly and their families looking for options beyond nursing homes. Many elderly see nursing homes as the end of the road.

From a 2021 poll by the John A. Hartford Foundation, 71% of older adults are unwilling to live in a nursing home when the time comes and 90% say that nursing homes need to change to become more appealing.

Key Takeaways

  • There are groups providing home care to the elderly such as Meals on Wheels and services that provide nurses and doctors who will make regular house calls.
  • If the individual is over 55, lives in a PACE area, and has access to Medicare or Medicaid, they are eligible for the PACE program under Medicare. 
  • The U.S.(HUD) provides subsidized housing to the elderly with low incomes.
  • Other options include board and care homes, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:continuing care re🦋tire🤡ment communities (CCRC), and apartments with elderly-friendly amenities.

Home Care

Groups like Meals on Wheels provide meals to elderly people who cannot make their own. This service is conducted by volunteers, many of whom are elderly citizens themselves. Likewise, there are services that provide nurses and doctors who will make regular house calls. This option can be considered for the elderly who need attention and help rather than constant medical attention.

Holistic Care Programs

Medicare offers the "Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly" or PACE. This service helps the elderly receive medical care while they live in communities rather than in nursing homes. If the person is over 55, lives in a PACE area, and has access to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Medicare or Medicaid, they are eligible for PACE.

Those who meet the criteria can then receive healthcare from professionals and organizations affiliated with PACE. This program caters to small groups of individuals, which means greater personal attention is provided. PACE helps take care of other services like dental, eye, and hearing care. Medical transportation, hospital transportation, and physiotherapy are all undertaken by the PACE program.

Subsidized Housing Care

The U.S. De🅘partment of Housing and Urb🦩an Development (HUD) provides subsidized hღousing to the elderly with low incomes. However, there are often long wait lists.

Elder Apartments

Apartments for persons over 55 are available. These apartments have elderly-friendly amenities. Communal eateries, transportation, and recreational activities are made available to residents. Retirement housing that includes townhouses, condominiums, and that have maintenance and recreational facilities are also available.

Assisted Living Facilities

Some elders require assistance with day-to-day activities like doing laundry and making meals but do not need medical assistance and can function independently. An assisted living facility works wonderfully in such ca🌌ses.

Assisted living facilities can help individuals who might not be very mobile, but enjoy socializing and interacting with others. Elders who live in assisted living facilities pay rent and extra charges for other services.

Board and Care Homes

Many elders need a higher degree of care than residents in an assisted living facility. They need help bathing, going to the bathroom, and walking. However, Medicaid or 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Medicare won't cover them.

In this kind of facility, elders are watched over 24 hours a day, but they do not need medical assistance. Homes that have fewer than six elderly individuals living there are sometimes called adult family homes. Homes that have 20 residents or fewer are called board and care homes.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

This alternative allows for the transition from apartments to assisted living to nursing homes all within the same campus. The average initial payment is $402,000 but monthly fees on top of that can range between $2,000 and $4,000.

It is not a viable option for elders with low incomes. This format is 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:changing thanks to the recession. The various facilities at a retirement community ca🦂n now be made available at the elder's home.

Nurses, caregivers, and therapists come into the elder's home to give aid. With housing out of the picture, costs are reduced dramatically.

What Is the Difference Between a Nursing Home and a Care Home?

Nursing homes provide a higher level of care than care homes because a nurse is always on site. While care homes provide care around the clock, they don't always have a nurse on hand to address more serious issues.

What Is PACE?

PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program that stands for "Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly" that allows the elderly to receive care in their community rather than going to a nursing home or other elderly care facility. It offers services such as dental, adult primary daycare, home care, hospital care, nutritional counseling, and meals.

What Is the Difference Between Skilled Nursing and Assisted Living?

Skilled nursing provides 24/7 care while assisted living means individuals live independently and receive assistance only when it is needed. Skilled nursing would be for individuals ไwho need constant care and attention while assisted living best suits the elderly who can manage living on their own.

The Bottom Line

As the elderly population of the country increases, there will be a proportionate increase in the diversity of facilities offered to elders. This increase in the elderly population also means elders will become more🌺 vocal about the kinds of facilities they would like to use.

Article Sources
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  1. United States Census Bureau. “,” Page 1.

  2. Knoema. "."

  3. The John A. Hartford Foundation. "."

  4. Meals on Wheels America. “.”

  5. Medicare. “.”

  6. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "."

  7. Senior Living. "."

  8. American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living. "."

  9. AARP. "."

  10. Seniorly. "."

  11. AARP. "."

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