Nursing Homes and the Aging Population

Nursing Homes and the Aging Population

For decades, the word ‘nursing home’ has evoked dread in the senior population. In our contemporary times, the average age of admissions into nursing homes has increased from an average age of 81 years in 1985, to 83 years old in 1997. Current statistics reveal the average age now has reached 86 years. No longer are nursing homes dark depressing endless halls of wheelchair bound elderly. The current culture change has changed the face of nursing homes into beautifully designed rehabilitation and long-term care facilities.

Step down units provide 24-hour care for the sick and injured whereas before seniors were relegated to inpatient hospital stays with little freedom and personalized care. Facilities in most cities now cater to the blooming ‘boomer’ population, with gyms, private rooms with state of the art televisions as well as chefs providing 6 meals daily from an upscale menu that could potentially compete with hotel menus.

Two of the most common reasons for admittance into a nursing care facility are incontinence and loss of mobility. Families/caregivers faced with these issues become hard pressed to meet the needs of elder relatives especially when careers, children and time away from home prevent caring adequately for their loved ones. When one care need is the issue, help may be available to family members, but once two or more issues complicate the care or more assistance that is physical is needed, nursing home admittance although a painful decision, may be the only answer.