Information on Nursing Homes for the Elderly
from zikkir.com by Debbie Dunn
An Article About Nursing Homes
Overview
Do you or a loved one need to decide where you will spend your final years? Are you or a loved one in need of “rehabilitation services” from a nursing home to help you overcome a temporary disability, recover from a debilitating illness, or relearn skills so that you can once again live and work independently. Residing in a nursing home is only one of the options available. This article is aimed to help you make an informed decision. You will read about
nursing homes facts, history, the three different types of nursing homes, a bit about insurance coverage, benefits, and other key information. Choosing to reside in a nursing home is a big decision. Armed with the information gleaned from this article, hopefully you can make the best decision possible.The Facts
What is a nursing home? A nursing home is a residence for mostly senior citizens and sometimes young people who are not able to care for themselves either temporarily or permanently. The residents are provided with nurses, therapists, and other caregivers who help them deal with illness, injuries, and “functional disabilities.” When it is possible, “rehabilitation services” are provided with the primary goal of helping the resident to return home. The secondary goal is to improve his or her quality of life, whether their stay at the nursing home is short-term, long-term, or permanent.
Some of the therapy services available include physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy.
History
Currently, the option of moving to a quality nursing home is taken for granted. This has not always been the case. PBS.org titles their article the “Evolution of nursing home care in the United States.” In the early 1900s, senior citizens and disabled citizens, when they could not afford to provide their own care, had to resort to living in residences known as “poor farms” or “almhouses.” Their quality of life would have been poor. Additionally, the reputation of those residents would be lowered as there was a social stigma attached to having to live in such a place.
In the 1930s, “the New Deal helped promote the idea that elderly citizens should receive federal benefits on the basis of need.” The Social Security laws were improved and was “now universal.”
Through the subsequent years, laws changed, sometimes to the benefit of our elderly citizens and sometimes to their detriment. It was not until 1972, that Public Law 92-603 was passed. It “contained a number of reforms for
nursing homes, including a new policy that Medicaid would reimburse nursing homes on a ‘reasonable cost-related basis’, with the hope that the facilities would provide better care.” Yet even after that time, the laws continued to fluctuate. Even as late as 1997, the Boren Amendment was repealed that proposed “to ensure ‘reasonable and adequate’ provider reimbursement rates.” In other words, improvements still need to be made.On the fact sheet provided by PBS.org, they state that “67 percent of nursing home facilities were for-profit in 1999-2000, 26 percent were nonprofit and 7 percent were government owned and operated.”
Types
There are three main types of residential
nursing homes or categories: independent living, assisted living, and full care.Nelson & Wallery, Ltd., a financial and Internet marketing consulting firm, who specialize in the senior care industry, include many details and information about
Nursing homes. They suggest that “Independent living is for people who can take care of themselves and includes residing in one’s own home or apartment, a retirement community, or independent living apartments.”With Assisted Care living, the resident is able to take care many of their own needs. Often, they have a small apartment to live in complete with kitchen, bedroom, living room, and bathroom. They have the option of visiting the residential dining room or cooking for themselves. The residents have the peace of mind of knowing that should they fall or need emergency help, there is a pull cord located in the bathroom and perhaps some other locations of their apartment. Nelson & Wallery, Ltd., state that these residents also have access to “housekeeping, medication assistance, laundry, and regular check-ins.”
In a full-care nursing home, the resident often has one to no more than three roommates, sometimes receives therapy, and frequently needs to be showered and diapered. Many are wheelchair-bound. Some use walkers. A few can walk unaided. Although the residents can keep snacks in their rooms, they take most or all of their meals in the residential dining room.
Should you need to decide what level of nursing home is appropriate for you or a loved one, download the 4-page Nursing Home checklist included in the Resource section.
Features
According to the official Medicare website, out of all the
nursing homes in the US, over 17,000 are either Medicare or Medicaid certified or both. Some residents pay for their stay through Long Term Care Insurance policies. A link to the Medicare site is included in the Reference section so you can find the right nursing home that best fits your personal and financial needs.Considerations
NAFC reports that “more than half of all residents in
nursing homes are incontinent.” They credit this condition as being “the second leading cause of institutionalization.” Of all the female residents who begin their life at a nursing home fully able to take care of their toileting needs, NAFC found that 22 percent “became incontinent within one year of admission.”Medicare offers a website link called ‘Five-star quality rating system’. They base this system largely on health inspections, staffing, and 10 of the 14 long-term care quality measures (QM).
The health inspections include information about three years worth of on-site visits. They will evaluate multiple aspects such as “the care of residents and the processes used to give that care, how the staff and residents interact, and the nursing home environment.” They look at fire safety factors as well.
The staffing category includes information about the ratio between nursing and care staff to the number of residents. Nursing home staff includes Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN), and Certified Nursing Assistants (CAN).
Appendix 2 of the “Improving the Nursing Home Compare Web Site” lists and describes all 14 QM points for long-term care. These include items such as mobility, pressure ulcers, catheters, restraints, urinary tract infections, flu, pneumonia, pain levels, depression, anxiety, weight loss, etc. For further details, please click on the link included in the reference section.
Benefits
There are multiple benefits for you or a loved one to reside in a nursing home should you no longer be able to care for yourself. You are provided with a furnished room, housekeeping, linen services, meals, snacks, trained medical staff, protection, and entertainment options. For an extra charge, you also have the option of physician services, medications, therapists, personal care items, and laundry services.
Conclusion
Choosing to reside in a nursing home is a big decision. It is a feasible option for some. It is the only option for others. Still others view that option with dread when they recall the reputation of past senior citizens who resided in the state almhouses of the early and mid-twentieth century or they hear about the nursing home abuses that sometimes take place currently. As Nursing Home Info.com states, “Fortunately, the range of senior care options continues to expand to better meet the care and financial needs of individuals. Some of the alternatives that may be available in your area include independent living, congregate care, assisted living and home health care.” There are also the options of adult day care and respite care.
Talk with your insurance company. Read the articles included in the Reference and Resource section. Study your finances. That way, you can make the best informed decision for you and the ones who you love as to whether or not moving to a nursing home is the best or only option.
- By Debbie Dunn | AC