Who resides in nursing homes?
Nearly half of all people that reside in nursing homes tend to be 85 years or even older. Fairly few occupants are younger than 65 years. Most are females (72%), many of whom are without a partner (nearly 70% are generally widowed, separated, or never married) and with only a small group of family members and friends for help.
The Most Commonly Encountered Reason Behind Living in A Nursing Home
Some type of disability with activities of daily living (ADLs) is among the most common reason why older people reside in nursing homes. Unsurprisingly, people residing in nursing homes usually have more incapability than people living at home. More than 80% of nursing home residents require assistance with 3 or more ADLs (including dressing and washing). 90% of residents who are able to walk require assistance or supervision. More than 50 % of residents have urinary incontinence (possibly bowel or bladder), and more than 1 / 3 have difficulty with listening or seeing.
As well as physical difficulties, psychological illnesses tend to be frequent in nursing home residents. In reality, dementia remains the most common issue, and has an effect on an estimated 50-70% of residents. More than three fourths of nursing-home occupants have issues making day-to-day choices, and 2 thirds experience problems with memory or figuring out exactly where they are from time to time.
At least one-third of nursing home occupants have problematic actions. These actions might include spoken and also actual physical abuse, behaving inappropriately in public, fighting off essential attention, as well as wandering. Communication troubles are also common-almost half of nursing home residents have a problem both being understood and understanding other people. Depression is an additional problem which has an effect on nursing home occupants. Research has shown it may take place a lot more within nursing home occupants than in folks living in the town.
Length of Stay
Period of stay differs a lot within nursing homes. Twenty-five percent of people admitted stay only a short time (Three months or fewer). Lots of people whom remain for a short period of time are admitted for rehabilitation or for critical (end-of-life) health care. About 50 % of occupants spend a minimum of 12 months within the nursing home, and 21% live there for almost Five years. Interestingly, function usually improves in numerous residents who stay for a longer time.
Risk Factors for Admission
There are numerous risks with regard to admittance to a nursing home:
Age. The chance of being admitted to a nursing home increases with age. For example, about 15% of people 85 years and older live in nursing homes, compared with just 1.1% of people 65-74 years of age.
- Low income.
- Below average family support, especially in cases where the older adult lacks a spouse or children.
- Low social activity.
- Functional or mental difficulties.
- Caucasian race/ethnicity.
Characteristics of Nursing Homes
Nursing homes frequently offer you medical solutions similar to those offered in hospitals following surgery, sickness, or any other sudden medical problems. Older adults require a more impressive range of care, and hospital stays are shorter than they used to be. Medical services vary a lot among nursing homes, but include:
- skilled nursing care
- orthopedic care (care for muscle, joint, and bone problems)
- breathing treatments
- support after surgery
- physical, occupational, and speech therapy
- intravenous therapy and antibiotics
- wound care
Nursing homes provide nutritional counseling, social work services and recreational activities, as well as respite care, hospice care, and end-of-life care.
Choosing a Nursing Home
Your health care provider or other healthcare professional (such as a home health nurse or social worker) can provide recommendations for nursing homes. In addition, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides detailed information that can help you compare different nursing homes.
Elderly adults and/or family members need to try to visit as many homes as they can to acquire a feeling of the general feeling and excellence of attention. Utilizing a checklist can help you evaluate quality, the range of solutions, convenience, and costs. Your visit may last an hour or two so that you can meet and talk with the admissions officer, nursing home administrator, director of nursing, and social worker. Remember that no nursing home is perfect, and all will likely be very different from the current living situation.
Suggested Questions to Ask When Visiting a Nursing Home
Is the nursing home clean?
Are there any unpleasant smells?
Is it well maintained?
Do the residents look well cared for?
Are the rooms adequate?
What recreational and private space is available?
Are there safety features, such as railings and grab bars?
Is the home licensed by the state and certified by Medicaid?
How many nurses and nursing assistants are there compared with how many residents?
Do the administrators and medical professionals have special training in geriatrics or long-term care?
Are key professionals full-time or part-time?
How long have the managers and medical professionals worked at the nursing home?
Is vaccination against influenza required for all staff members?
Who will be the physician or nurse practitioner that will be following the resident, and how accessible are they?
How close is the nursing home to family members?
How close is it to the nearest hospital?
What is the food like?
How much do basic services cost? What services are covered?
What additional services are available? How much do they cost?
What happens if a person runs out of money and needs medical aid?
The Centers with regard to Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) uses various quality measures to rate nursing homes. For example, CMS reports the percent of residents who:
receive seasonal flu vaccines and the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine
were physically restrained
had one or more falls with major injury
have pressure ulcers
lose too much weight
Nursing homes may often seem scary and depressing, and moving into one can fill people with a sense of betrayal and failure. Family involvement is important in helping the older person make the transition to a new living arrangement.
Contrary to the stereotype, families do not abandon their loved ones by placing them in a nursing home. In fact, only a few nursing home residents are truly without any family. Family
members are encouraged to visit residents regularly and to be involved in the total care of their older relative. Family members can offer company and help with the basic activities of daily living, and they may be better able to communicate the needs of the resident.
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