How many nursing homes are in the us: Nursing Homes in America – Care.com Resources

Nursing Homes in America – Care.com Resources

From the moment we’re born, our parents have the responsibility to watch over and care for us. For most of the first two decades of our life, their objective is to nourish, cloth and keep us safe and warm. Yet, for a growing number of families, there comes the point when parents need our assistance to manage their physical, mental and emotional needs. Fortunately, there are ample health care options today to help caregivers and their family members determine what type of care is best for each individual.

Almost everyone wants to stay in his or her own home. After all, it’s the place they are most comfortable. Studies show that more than 75 percent of older adults wish to age in their own homes. So in-home care from qualified caregivers – whether a family member, friend or professional – is a preferred option. 

But there may come a time when the degree of care or the amount of attention a family member or caregiver is capable of providing exceeds what an aging relative requires. Options such as assisted living facilities, which provide a combination of care while still allowing relative freedom and flexibility, are available in most areas of the country. And when the care needs of an individual exceed both the abilities of their family and the care of assisted living facilities, nursing homes are another option. 

Few of us want to think about placing a family member or friend in a nursing home environment. While many nursing home facilities provide high-quality care and attention, negative stories and legal cases of homes providing inadequate care or not properly supervising employees receive the most attention. 

To better gauge how Americans feel about nursing homes as a health care option, we analyzed recent Medicare data and surveyed 978 people to get their take on the subject. Take a moment to read through our findings to see how they view nursing homes in America.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 15,600 nursing homes in the United States with 1. 7 million licensed beds, occupied by 1.4 million patients. The primary advantage to nursing home care is that patients have access to skilled care 24/7. For some patients, that is vital.

Although nursing homes technically provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, that doesn’t mean individuals are supervised continuously. On average, each patient receives about four hours of personalized care per day.

This care comes mainly from two sources: registered nurses (RNs), whose education and training allow them to administer medications and treatments and manage each patient’s care regimen, and licensed practical nurses (LPNs). It’s easy to see how people confuse the two designations. However, there are important differences between RNs and LPNs concerning education and training.

On average, RNs spend about 40 minutes with each patient on a daily basis. LPNs usually spend more time with patients, averaging 53 minutes, since they are responsible for more basic care needs like taking a patient’s blood pressure and temperature and making sure individual patients are comfortable and receiving basic needs.  

Not All Nursing Home Care Is Equal

When nursing home care becomes necessary, we would like to believe facilities in every state or community are the same. Unfortunately, like other health care services, that’s not always the case.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have created a five-star, quality rating system for nursing homes to help families evaluate how a facility has performed based on the following three areas:

Health Inspections – based on the number, scope and severity of deficiencies identified during the two most recent annual inspection surveys, as well as substantiated findings from complaint investigations.

Staffing – based on two measures, solely related to the nursing staff: registered nurse hours per resident per day and total staffing hours (registered nurse + licensed practical nurse) per resident per day. (Other types of nursing home staff, such as clerical or housekeeping staff, are not included in this rating calculation).

Quality Measures – based on the performance of 16 quality measures: seven for short-term stay residents and nine for long-term stay residents.

The star rating is based on a scale of one to five, with five being a top score. Hawaii received the highest score at 3.93, followed closely by Washington, D.C., Florida, New Jersey and Colorado. 

Relatives in Nursing Homes Want You to Visit Longer

Investing quality time to visit with family and close friends is often challenging under the best of circumstances. When it comes to visiting loved ones in nursing homes, many times it’s not as often as they would prefer.

Visiting elders, whether in a nursing home, assisted living facility or even in their own homes, not only brightens their day but also has been shown to benefit their mental and physical health. So how often do people visit loved ones and friends in nursing homes?

According to our survey results, our respondents averaged six nursing home visits per month, staying an average of one hour and 27 minutes per visit.

Well over half (54.7 percent) felt they didn’t spend enough time on nursing home visits, averaging only four trips each month. For the 45.3 percent who were satisfied with their visiting habits, they averaged nine trips each month. 

Still, visits were sometimes hard to make. Roughly 57 percent of respondents indicated work issues were the No. 1 culprit for visiting less frequently, and over 39 percent said they found visiting loved ones in the nursing home too depressing. Another 38.3 percent said other family obligations kept them away, with 34.4 percent saying finances or the expense of traveling to the nursing home was a deterrent. Only 7.9 percent gave distance as a reason.

Reasons for Not Visiting Evoke Many Emotions

Regardless of how often family members in nursing homes are visited, loved ones often feel some sense of guilt. An astounding 77.3 percent of our survey respondents felt some type of guilt, so let’s break the numbers down a bit further. 

Just under 14 percent reported feeling “extremely” guilt, followed by less than 21 percent who indicated “moderate” guilt about relatives having to live in nursing homes.

Another 19 percent expressed feeling “somewhat” guilty, with those feeling only “slightly” guilty coming in at 23.7 percent. Were any of our respondents guilt-free? Absolutely, because just under 23 percent had a clear conscience about their relative living in a nursing home. 

However, experts say feelings of guilt for deciding to place loved ones in a nursing home facility are not unusual. 

Regardless of the issues that lead to such a life-changing experience, experts suggest acknowledging such feelings are a normal part of the aging process. They also suggest talking to friends, family or other caregivers may help reduce guilty feelings, especially when you know others are faced with similar decisions. 

As expected, when the tables are turned, few of us desire to spend our final days in a nursing home, and it probably comes as no surprise that almost half said they would not be satisfied when that decision was made on their behalf.

Making Difficult, Quality-of-Life Decisions

Nearly three-quarters of respondents to our survey indicated that the decision to send a family member to a nursing home was a difficult one.  Experts suggest talking to your aging parents about their care preferences before a crisis erupts, even though research shows many adults would rather have “the sex talk” with their kids than discuss senior care with their parents.

Of the survey respondents who made the final decision alone, 63.2 percent said they would send another aging relative to a nursing home if warranted. However, almost 18 percent said they would not send another aging relative to a nursing home, with nearly 19 percent saying they were unsure of making sure a decision again themselves.

When other family members helped decide if nursing home care was the best option for their relative, the numbers change slightly. Of this group, only 44.1 percent would send another aging relative to a nursing home facility, with another 47 percent expressing their uncertainty. 

For our respondents who said another family member decided nursing home care, 45 percent were not sure they would support sending another aging family member to a nursing home.

What can families do when an aging parent refuses help? Jody Gastfriend, VP of Senior Care at Care.com and author of My Parents’ Keeper: The Guilt, Grief, Guesswork, and Unexpected Gifts of Caregiving (Yale University Press), suggests working with your parents, as much as possible, and not against them. “We can empathize with their fears and not take their resistance personally,” she writes.

But what if the time comes to tell a family member that nursing home care is best? There are no easy answers —though it can help to talk with other family caregivers who’ve been in a similar position. 

Over a quarter of our respondents revealed they gave an aging relative false hope that their stay could be brief or they eventually would be able to return home. That’s most likely not the case for most patients, however, since just under half were admitted from a hospital or other health care facility. 

Are Families Satisfied With Nursing Home Care?

Once the decision or health status of an aging family member means nursing home care is in their future, relatives obviously want the best care and facilities their resources can provide. The question is: Are they satisfied with their relative’s nursing home?

Over 71 percent of those surveyed said they were satisfied with the care their aging relative received in a nursing home. Another 18.1 percent were dissatisfied, with 10.6 percent being neither. 

Because people in nursing homes require more skilled care, they tend to receive a higher level of medical attention compared to those in assisted living facilities or those receiving in-home care. Other benefits are 24-hour supervision, meal services and assistance with strenuous activities.

Over half of those surveyed said they would provide full-time care to an aging relative if possible, but another 25.5 percent were unsure. 

Another area we surveyed concerned the most common requests made during a relative’s nursing home stay. Topping the list was requesting special food items at just over 20 percent, followed by extra attention at 19.2 percent and environmental accommodations (e.g., room temperature) at 17 percent.

Finally, 42 percent of respondents said they asked for some type of special accommodation to make their loved one’s stay more pleasant.

The State of Acute vs. Chronic Stays

Our high school health or science class taught us the difference between acute (mild and less severe) and chronic (sometimes more severe and lasting longer than six months) pain. According to recent data compiled by Medicaid, on average, nursing home residents with short-term stays tend to experience more pain compared to fellow residents with more extended stays.

The national average of long-term patients self-reporting moderate to severe pain was 5.6 percent, while the average for short-term patients is more than twice that, at 13.1 percent. 

The Medicaid study reported just under 31 percent of short-term nursing home residents in Alaska self-reported moderate to severe pain – the most of any state. 

Supporting Caregivers and Aging Relatives Is Our Goal

Most of us can agree that skilled or nursing home care should be a last resort for everyone, regardless of age. After all, most people want to stay in the comfort of their homes as long as possible.

Many factors contribute to deciding that skilled care is the best option for everyone. Family members and engaged friends, along with medical professionals and especially the family member or loved one requiring a high level of care, are all important when it comes to making such a critical, quality-of-life decision. 

That’s why those of us at Care.com are here to provide as much information and support as needed. After all, our mission is to improve the lives of families and caregivers by helping them connect reliably and easily, especially when it comes to finding the right caregiver for your family.

Methodology and Limitations

We analyzed and visualized Nursing Home Compare data for 2017, provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, to provide insight into the state of nursing homes in the U.S. The information on Nursing Home Compare comes from three key sources: the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) health inspection database, a national database of resident clinical data known as the Minimum Data Set (MDS) and Medicare claims data. Additionally, we surveyed 978 Americans with a family member who was currently seeking treatment in a nursing home facility. Of the survey respondents, 54.8 percent were female and 45.1 percent were male, with the remaining 0.1 percent not listing their self-identified gender. The average age of respondents was 37.6 years old with a standard deviation of 11.8. As with any survey that utilizes self-reported data, there are potential issues with the data collected. These issues include, but are not limited to: selective memory, telescoping, attribution and exaggeration.

Sources

• https://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/nursing-home-care#1
• https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/nursing-home-care.htm
• https://www.allnursingschools.com/articles/registered-nurse-vs-licensed-practical-nurse/
• https://www.cms.gov/medicare/provider-enrollment-and-certification/certificationandcomplianc/fsqrs.html
• https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-us-states-with-the-oldest-population. html
• https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/wellbeing/11812307/Mixing-young-and-old-people-can-extend-lives.html
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-grief/201705/guilt-and-grief-placing-loved-one-in-nursing-facility
• https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-decide-if-its-time-for-nursing-home-care-98182
• https://www.care.com/c/questions/3267/how-do-i-tell-someone-they-are-moving-permane/
• https://www.longtermcarelink.net/eldercare/nursing_home.htm
• https://www.nic.org/blog/key-takeaways-from-the-second-quarter-2018-nic-skilled-nursing-data-report/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/health/nursing-homes-occupancy.html
• https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/residential-facilities-assisted-living-and-nursing-homes
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12051-acute-vs-chronic-pain
• https://www.apmhealth.com/news-updates/apm-blog/item/121-whats-the-connection-between-the-weather-and-pain-levels
• https://www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435509/
• https://dailycaring.com/3-ways-to-support-seniors-during-a-short-term-nursing-home-stay/
• https://www.care.com/what-we-do

Fair Use Statement

Are you or another family member or friend considering a nursing home for a loved one? If so, and you feel the information from this article could help ease their worry, feel free to share the graphics and content for noncommercial purposes. Just make sure to link back to this page so that those who compiled and reported these data receive proper credit.

Long-term care statistics 2022

There are 65,600 regulated long-term care facilities in the U.S. About 70% of seniors will need some type of long-term care. Get updated assisted living and nursing home statistics here.

What is long-term care? | Who needs long-term care? | Long-term care stats worldwide | U.S. long-term care stats | Long-term care stats by facility type | Long-term care stats by demographic | Health outcomes | Costs | Preparation | Reform | FAQs | Research

Many Americans will need long-term care (LTC) at some point in their lives. Older adults, sick and disabled adults, as well as children with special needs—including those who are chronically or terminally ill—may all require long-term care services.

Despite this, long-term care remains a complex topic for many. This article provides an overview of long-term care statistics, including information on who receives long-term care services, how much it costs, and where those services are provided.

What is long-term care?

According to the National Institute on Aging, long-term care is a broad term used to describe a variety of services and supports for those who can no longer care for themselves due to age-related impairments. This care can be provided at home or in a facility designed to care for those who can no longer complete Activities of Daily Living (everyday tasks and responsibilities) on their own without risking their health and safety.

“Long-term care is care for an individual that helps with grooming, bathing, dressing, eating, and other tasks throughout the day,” says Mary McDonald Winners, BSBA, MSG, CPG, gerontologist and founder of About Seniors Solutions.

The term encompasses assisted living and nursing home care, as well as in-home care provided by a home health aide, family caregiver, or visiting nurse. Adult day care centers also fall under the long-term care umbrella.

Who needs long-term care?

• Seniors aged 65 have a nearly 70% chance of requiring long-term care services in the future.
• Women (3.7 years) stay in long-term care facilities longer than men (2.2 years). 

Administration for Community Living, 2020

Long-term care statistics worldwide

• Every day until 2030, 10,000 “Baby Boomers” will reach the age of 65. (Genworth, 2022)
• Seven out of every 10 people will require long-term care. (Genworth, 2022)
• Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and Sweden spend the most on long-term care. (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2020)

Long-term care statistics in the U.

S.

• In 2016, roughly 8.3 million people received long-term care services in a regulated facility. (National Center for Health Statistics, 2019)
• In the United States, there are nearly 1 million licensed beds with an average of 33 licensed beds per assisted living facility. (AHCA/NCAL, 2015)
• The Western region of the U.S. has the most assisted living communities (41%) followed by the South (28%), Midwest (23%), and the Northeast (8%). (AHCA/NCAL, 2015)
• There are more than 800,000 people in assisted living throughout the United States. (AHCA/NCAL, 2015)
• Of 3.9 million Americans receiving care in a skilled nursing facility, 78% received long-term care for 100 days or more. (American Health Care Association, 2015)
• There are only 1.7 million assisted living employees in the U.S. to care for the 3.9 million residents. (American Health Care Association, 2015)

Long-term care statistics by facility type

In 2016, there were approximately 65,600 regulated long-term care facilities in the United States. Long-term care services were provided by:

• 28,900 assisted living and similar residential care facilities
• 15,600 nursing home facilities
• 12,200 home health agencies
• 4,600 adult day care centers
• 4,300 hospice agencies

National Center for Health Statistics, 2019

Most assisted living communities offer 24-hour supervision and assistance, wellness programs, housekeeping, meals, medication management, transportation, and personal care services. The following are examples of personal care services:

• 64% of assisted living residents need help bathing
• 57% need help walking
• 48% need help dressing
• 40% need help with going to the bathroom
• 29% need help with bed transfer
• 19% need help eating

The following statistics are the percentage of assisted living communities that provide other healthcare services than those listed above:

• 84% provide pharmacy
• 83% provide dietary and nutritional services
• 71% provide therapy (including physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy)
• 68% provide hospice
• 66% provide skilled nursing
• 55% provide mental health or counseling services
• 51% provide social work services
• 14% have a dementia care unit, wing, or designated floor
• 9% only serve adults with dementia

AHCA/NCAL, 2015

Long-term care demographic statistics

In 2018:

• 7% of residential care community residents were younger than 65.
• 38% of residents were 65 to 84 years old.
• 55% of residents were 85 and older.
• 67% of residents were female; 33% were male.
• 89% of residents were non-Hispanic white, 6% were non-Hispanic Black, and 5% were of another race or ethnicity.

CDC, 2019

Long-term care and health outcomes

According to the CDC, the most common conditions affecting long-term care residents, in order of prevalence, are: 

• High blood pressure (55%)
• Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias (34%)
• Depression (27%)
• Arthritis (20%)
• Diabetes (20%)
• Heart disease (17%)
• Osteoporosis (12%)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and related conditions (11%)
• Stroke (10%)

RELATED: The complete medication management guide for seniors

Coronavirus 

Coronavirus cases and deaths are also prevalent in long-term care facilities. As of June 2021, 4% of coronavirus cases and 31% of COVID-related deaths occurred in long-term care facilities, according to The New York Times. More than half of COVID-related deaths were linked to nursing homes in five states: New Hampshire (66%), Rhode Island (61%), Minnesota (59%), North Dakota (58%), and Connecticut (53%).

Hospitalizations, ER visits, and deaths

• An estimated 1 to 3 million serious infections occur in long-term care settings each year. (CDC, 2020)
• Throughout a three-year study, the yearly mortality rate of nursing home residents was 32%. (PLOS One, 2018)
• From 2011 to 2017, 56.1% of nursing home residents with advanced illnesses were transferred to a hospital for care. (JAMA Internal Medicine, 2019)
• Falls, trauma, or fractures were the most frequent problems of nursing home residents treated in the emergency department from 2015 to 2016. (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2020)

RELATED: Fall prevention for seniors

Elder abuse

Unfortunately, elder abuse sometimes occurs in nursing homes.

• Globally, about 1 in 6 people aged 60 years or older have experienced some form of elder abuse in community settings. (World Health Organization, 2021)
• Two-thirds of long-term care staff around the world reportedly committed elder abuse in the past year. (World Health Organization, 2021)
• Before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 10 older adults reported elder abuse per year. In a 2021 study, 1 in 5 older adults reported elder abuse. (The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2021)
• Rates of elder abuse have increased in the U.S. by 84% during the COVID-19 pandemic. (The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 2021)
• Up to 5 million older Americans are abused each year. (National Council on Aging, 2021)
• Half of seniors with dementia experience abuse or neglect. (National Council on Aging, 2021)

The cost of long-term care

The following table compares the national average long-term care costs in 2021 compared to costs of long-term care in 2020.

Genworth, 2022

Who pays for long-term care? Is it covered by insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid? In 2019:

• Medicaid spent $182.8 billion on long-term services and supports.
• Medicare spent $87.5 billion on long-term services and supports.
• Other public sources (including Veterans Health Administration) spent $25.7 billion on long-term services and supports.
• Consumers spent $63.4 billion out-of-pocket on long-term services and supports.
• Private insurance spent $35.5 billion on long-term services and supports.
• Other private sources (philanthropic support from individuals and organizations such as the United Way) spent $28.2 billion on long-term services and supports.

Although private funding makes up just over 30% of the total spending for long-term care services and supports, this amount has decreased almost 8% in the past 20 years while public funding has increased from 62% in 1999 to nearly 70% in 2019.

Congressional Research Service, 2021

Preparing for long-term care

Being prepared for long-term care is important for all seniors. There are several ways to do this, but the reality is that most don’t plan for it. According to one survey, 40% of respondents had purchased long-term care insurance or were planning to. The same survey found that only 1 in 3 respondents were able to accurately predict the annual cost of long-term care insurance. Planning early allows for better insight into your options and could save you and your loved ones money in the long run.

Here are a few things to consider:

• Develop a financial plan: Financial planning is a critical step in preparing for future long-term-care needs, but is often overlooked.
• Consider what type of care you may need and the associated costs: This isn’t straightforward and requires research and discussion. It’s impossible to know what type of care you’ll require at some point in your future, but it’s important to research different care options, as well as the cost of each. Consider looking into the cost differences of different types of long-term care facilities. For example, how does the cost of residential care compare to the cost of home care?
• Review the benefits available from Medicare and your current health insurance plan: Long-term care isn’t covered under Medicare, but there are several other benefits that may help. For example, it’s possible to be reimbursed for home health care through Medicare Part B.
• Determine your method for paying for long-term care: Long-term care costs are steep. Most individuals pay for care services through private funds, long-term care insurance, or Medicaid.
• Purchase long-term care insurance: This is an option that can help you financially if you need long-term care in the future. The premiums for this insurance vary depending on your age, health, and other factors—but it’s important to consider it as part of your overall plan.
• Create an Advance Care Plan: This document allows you to outline your wishes for medical care if you’re unable to speak for yourself. This is an important document to have if you want to ensure your care is carried out the way you want. Advance Care Plans include advance directives, financial power of attorney, creating a living will, and a healthcare proxy.
• Talk to your family member: Discussing long-term care with loved ones is important. They need to know what your plans are and may also be able to assist, both in terms of your care and with your financial situation.

Long-term care reform

The current long-term care system has many barriers to quality service. It’s often inaccessible for those who most need it.

Two organizations that are working to improve long-term care are The American Health Care Association and National Center For Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). They have a vision for senior living that includes providing seniors with access to services in all types of communities, one that promotes independence and wellness, and offers the opportunity to age with dignity.  

Both organizations focus on improving the quality of care through the use of innovative technologies and evidence-based best practices. They also work to increase transparency and accountability in the long-term care system. This helps ensure that seniors receive the best possible care.

Long-term care questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are in assisted living?

More than 800,000 Americans reside in assisted living facilities, and this number is only expected to grow.

What percentage of people receive long-term care?

Roughly 70% of people age 65 and older will need some type of long-term care during their lifetime.

How long does the average person receive long-term care services?

The average adult age 65 and older receives long-term care services of some kind for approximately three years. This includes unpaid caregivers, paid care, home care, and care provided in a nursing or assisted living facility.

What is the average life expectancy of someone in assisted living?

More than half (55%) of assisted living residents are 85 years of age or older. The yearly mortality rate of nursing home residents was 32% and the median survival rate was 2.2 years.

What is the leading cause of death in nursing homes?

The most common cause of death among nursing home residents is pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections.

How many assisted living facilities are there in 2021?

There were approximately 65,600 regulated long-term care facilities across the United States in 2016. Of those, 28,900 were assisted living facilities.

What state has the most assisted living?

California has the highest number of assisted living communities with 5,900, followed by Florida with 2,400 and Washington with 2,000. Wyoming has the least amount of assisted living communities with only 20.

Long-term care research

• How much care will you need, Administration for Community Living
• Cost of care survey, Genworth
• Spending on long-term care, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
• Long-term care providers and services users in the United States, 2015–2016, National Center for Health Statistics
• Facts and figures, AHCA/NCAL
• Skilled nursing care centers fast facts, American Health Care Association
• Residential care community resident characteristics: United States, 2018, CDC
• Nearly one-third of U. S. coronavirus deaths are linked to nursing homes, The New York Times
• Long-term care facilities, CDC
• Mortality in nursing home residents: A longitudinal study over three years, PLOS One
• Hospital transfer rates among U.S. nursing home residents with advanced illnesses before and after initiatives, JAMA Internal Medicine
• Long-stay nursing facility resident transfers: Who gets admitted to the hospital? Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 
• Elder abuse, World Health Organization
• High prevalence of elder abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic, The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
• Get the facts on elder abuse, National Council on Aging
• Who pays for long-term services and supports? Congressional Research Service
• Infections in nursing homes, Nursing Home Abuse Center
• 2021 assisted living statistics, Consumer Affairs

Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Nursing Home Statistics [2022] – Zippia

Research Summary. Nursing homes and residential care (assisted living) facilities have become more and more needed as the large Baby Boomer generation ages. Here are some nursing home statistics:

• There are about 1,246,079 residents in U.S. nursing homes.

• There are about 26,514 nursing homes in the U.S.

• 70% of people who reach the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point in life.

• By 2050, up to 30 million people in the Americas will require long-term care services.

For further analysis, we broke down the data in the following ways:
Population | Trends and Projections | Industry | Demographics

• There are over 810,000 people living in assisted living facilities in the United States.

• 4% of U.S. seniors live in nursing homes.

• 2% of U.S. seniors live in assisted living facilities.

• 52% of the U.S. assisted living population is over the age of 85.

• 65% of people use in-home care services.

• California has the most nursing home residents of any state at 99,956.

Long-Term Care Trends and Projections

• The number of nursing home residents has dropped from 1. 39 million in 2010 to 1.29 million in 2020.

  Here is the number of U.S. nursing home residents each year from 2010 to 2020:

  Year	Number of Nursing Home Residents
  2010	1.385 million
  2011	1.370 million
  2012	1.367 million
  2013	1.360 million
  2014	1.348 million
  2015	1.352 million
  2016	1.329 million
  2017	1.322 million
  2018	N/A
  2019	1.246 million
  2020	1.290 million

• There are about 53 million unpaid family caregivers in the U.S.

  It’s estimated that 21.3% of Americans have provided care to a child with special needs or an adult in the past 12 months. In addition, 26% are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

• By 2050, an estimated 27 million to 30 million people in the Americas will require long-term care services.

  This accounts for only adults who are over the age of 60, and it’s over triple the number of people who need long-term care as of 2019 (8 million people).

• As of 2022, there are 26,514 nursing care facilities (nursing homes) in the U.S.

  This is an increase of 2% from 2021, and the number of facilities has seen an average annual growth rate of 2% from 2017 to 2022. Throughout 2022, the number of nursing homes is expected to grow by 2.2%.

• The market size of the U.S. nursing home industry is $146.9 billion in 2022.

  In 2021, its market size was $140.6 billion, and in 2020, it was $134.95 billion.

  The U.S. nursing home market size has seen an annual growth rate of 1.9% from 2017 to 2022, and it’s expected to have a 4.5% growth rate in 2022.

• About 69.3% of nursing homes are for-profit organizations.

  23.5% are nonprofit organizations, and the remaining 7.2% are run by the government.

  In contrast, 81% of residential care communities are for-profit companies, 17.7% are nonprofits, and 1.3% are government-owned.

• The average monthly cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home in the U.S. is $7,756.

  The average cost of a private nursing home room is $8,821 a month.

  The state with the highest nursing home costs is Alaska, where private rooms cost $36,378 a month on average, and semi-private rooms cost $37,143 a month.

  Missouri has the cheapest average rates at $5,749 a month for a private room and $5,080 a month for a semi-private room.

• In 2022, there are 1,721,732 nursing home employees in the U.S.

  The number of employees working for nursing care facilities slowly but steadily declined from 2012 to 2020, but now it’s on an upward swing, seeing an average annual growth rate of 0.6% from 2017 to 2022.

  In 2022 alone, experts predict that the number of nursing home employees will increase by 3. 2%.

• The average U.S. nursing home has 108.6 beds.

  New York is the state with the highest average number of beds in a nursing home at 186.3 beds, and Alaska has the lowest number at 41.4 beds.

• 54.6% of nursing home residents are women.

  That means that just 35.4% of nursing home residents are men. This ratio is similar to the ratio of male and female assisted living residents as well, where 70.6% are women, and 29.4% are men.

• 47.8% of nursing home residents have Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

  This is the second-most common condition found in nursing homes, behind hypertension, which 71.5% of nursing home residents suffer from.

• 23% of assisted living facilities offer dementia care units.

  14.3% of assisted living facilities have a wing, floor, or other section dedicated to dementia care, and 8.7% only serve adults who have dementia rather than just having a section for these patients.

• The majority of nursing home residents are non-Hispanic and white.

  Here is the breakdown of nursing home residents and assisted living residents by race:

  Race	Share of Nursing Home Residents	Share of Assisted Living Residents
  Non-Hispanic white	75.1%	81.4%
  Non-Hispanic Black	14.3%	4.1%
  Hispanic	5.4%	3.1%
  Non-Hispanic other	5.1%	11.5%

• People who are 85 years old or older make up the largest share of nursing home residents.

  Here is the breakdown of the share of nursing home residents each age group accounts for:

  Age Group	Share of Nursing Home Residents
  85 and up	38.6%
  75-84	26.7%
  65-74	18.2%
  Under 65	16. 5%

1. How many Americans live in nursing homes?

   About 1.246 million Americans live in nursing homes. In addition to this, there are more than 810,000 Americans who live in assisted living facilities.

   Assisted living facilities provide less hands-on care than nursing homes do and are designed for people who can still live independently but need some care. However, many of these residents move to nursing homes just a couple of years after they move into assisted living facilities.

   As far as nursing home residents go, though, California has the greatest number of any state, with about 99,956 residents. Texas and New York are close behind with 90,708 and 89,775, respectively, and Alaska has the least with 499 nursing home residents.

2. Home many nursing homes are there in the U.S.?

   There are about 26,514 nursing homes in the U.S. This is the number of nursing homes as of 2022, and it is 2% more than there were in 2021. This is on pace with the 2% average annual growth rate of the number of nursing home facilities from 2017 to 2022.

   This growth is only expected to continue, and experts predict that 2022 will see an increase of 2.2% in the number of nursing homes in the U.S.

   Of these nursing homes, almost 70% are for-profit organizations. 23.5% are nonprofits, and 7.2% are run by the government.

3. What is the average lifespan in a nursing home?

   The average lifespan in a nursing home is 2.2 years. This means that the average person who moves into a nursing home lives for about 2.2 years. This varies greatly depending on the individual, of course, but that’s the average.

   Interestingly, women typically need long-term care of some kind (at-home, assisted living, or nursing home) for a longer time than men do, needing an average of 3.7 years to men’s 2.2 years.

   In addition, 20% of people who are currently 65 years old will need long-term care of some kind for more than five years, and about 33% will never need long-term care.

4. What percentage of Americans over 65 live in nursing homes?

   4% of Americans over 65 live in nursing homes. In addition, 2% of Americans in this same age group live in assisted living facilities.

   Of those who do live in nursing homes, 18.2% are between the ages of 65 and 74, 26.7% are between the ages of 75 and 84, and 38.6% are 85 or older.

   While people who are over age 65 make up the largest share of nursing home residents, there are also a significant number of people under the age of 65 who live in nursing homes. 16.5% of all long-term nursing home residents are under the age of 65, which isn’t an insignificant percentage.

5. How big is the U.S. nursing home industry?

   The U.S. nursing home industry is $146.9 billion in size. Just one year earlier, in 2021, the industry’s market size was $134.95 billion. It’s already experienced an average annual growth rate of 1.9% from 2017 to 2022, and experts predict that it will grow at an even faster rate of 4. 5% in 2022.

   The market is made up of 26,514 nursing homes in the U.S., and this number is also growing: It’s estimated that the number of nursing home businesses will increase by 2.2% throughout 2022.

   About 1.7 million people work in these nursing homes. The number of nursing home employees was shrinking from 2012 to 2020, but since 2020, it’s been on an upward trajectory and is expected to increase by 3.2% in 2022 alone.

Conclusion

In the U.S., there are about 1.25 million people who live in nursing homes and 810,000 people who live in assisted living facilities. By 2050, it’s estimated that this number will more than triple, making the need for nursing homes and assisted living facilities more significant than ever.

This industry is already seeing significant growth, though, as it’s expected to see a 4.5% growth rate in its market size in 2022 alone, and the number of nursing home facilities is expected to grow by 2.2% during this same year.

References

1. Consumer Affairs. “2021 Assisted Living Statistics.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

2. Administration for Community Living. “How Much Care Will You Need?” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

3. Statista. “Number of Residents in Certified Nursing Facilities in the United States as of 2019, by State.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

4. KFF. “Total Number of Residents in Certified Nursing Facilities.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

5. AARP. “Caregiving in the United States 2020.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

6. Pan American Health Organization. “Number of Older Adults with Long-Term Care Needs Will Triple by 2050, PAHO Warns.” Accessed on May 20, 2022.

7. IBISWorld. “Nursing Care Facilities in the U.S. – Number of Businesses 2002-2027.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

8. IBISWorld. “Nursing Care Facilities in the U.S. – Market Size 2002-2027.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

9. CDC. “Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2015-2016.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

10. Statista. “Average Monthly Cost of Nursing Home in the United States in 2020, by Room Type and State.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

11. IBISWorld. “Nursing Care Facilities in the U.S. – Employment Statistics 2002-2027.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

12. KFF. “Average Number of Certified Nursing Facility Beds.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

13. National Library of Medicine. “Mortality in Nursing Home Residents: A Longitudinal Study Over Three Years.” Accessed on May 10, 2022.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

US Nursing Homes, American Nursing Home

The US welfare system is fairly well developed and most retirees live in nursing homes. When old age sets in and a person can no longer serve himself, he usually moves to a boarding school.

Types of nursing homes

1. ordinary;
2. Rehabilitation.

Ordinary nursing homes in the US are almost no different from boarding houses. The difference lies only in the constant presence of a nurse or on duty and cultural programs for pensioners. They include singing, music, drawing, needlework. America’s establishments have gyms, music corners with instruments, and cafeterias.

Rehabilitation centers provide recovery for people in need of skilled care after injury, illness or surgery. As a rule, stay in such institutions is short-term.

Any nursing home in America provides socialization, psychological rehabilitation and services for residents for their happy life and “home” comfort.

Maintenance costs

The cost of aged care depends on the state, type of institution, length of stay, need for special programs. There are boarding houses where the all-inclusive mode operates, some charge for additional services, for example, physical, speech therapy and others.

Average expenses

Average monthly costs vary by state of residence. Cheaper service in Oklahoma, where a double room will cost $4,471 and a private room will cost $5293. The most expensive service is in Alaskan boarding houses. A bed in a double room is $23,433 and a private room is $24,335.

Find a babysitter

If seniors live at home and there is enough occasional housekeeping assistance, social workers’ average wages are $20. 50 per hour, 164 $ per day, $4920 per month and $59040 per year. The average cost of skilled nursing home caregivers with a medical degree for the USA is approximately $220 per day, $6,600 per month, and $79$200 per year.

Benefits and subsidies

In some cases, short-term hospitalization and service costs are covered by Medicare. There are also special programs: SSI – assistance to the poor, and reimbursement of expenses for disabled veterans of the country, which is overseen by the Veterans Committee (VA). Depending on the US state, it is possible to receive regional subsidies, compensation for part of the residence, and receive free food packages.

American vs Russian

The main difference is the number of nursing homes – there are many more in the US, both public and private – and the choice of institution.

In America there are specialized boarding houses, for example, only for lovers of cats, music, for women who are engaged in needlework, and so on.

Barrier-free accessible environments have been established in all American senior centers and most cities. Citizens with disabilities can move freely using ramps and special mechanisms.

A person can be registered in an American nursing home, unlike in Russia, against their will. The condition for forced relocation and change of housing is the decision of a special commission.

Author: Anna Morozova

Number of hours per day:

Number of days:

Patient weight:

up to 80 kg

80-100kg

100-120kg

120+kg

Do I need an intramuscular injection?

Yes

Not

How many times during the entire care period?:

Do I need to give an intravenous injection?

Yes

Not

How many times during the entire care period?:

Do I need to put a drip?

Yes

Not

How many times during the entire care period?:

Do I need to give an enema?

Yes

Not

How many times during the entire care period?:

Do you need care during the holidays?

Yes

Not

Is it required to get to the patient from the subway by surface transport?

Yes

Not

news SGC Opeka in St.

Petersburg

Unlike Russia, in the United States nursing homes have firmly entered the daily life of citizens and have become an integral part of the social security sector. Many elderly and not so elderly people during their life do not just save money for old age, but plan in advance in which nursing home they will live after retirement.

Numerous boarding houses, hotels and homes for the elderly here have become not just social institutions, but a very special branch of business.

Often, the competition between different nursing homes is no worse than in the hotel business, and you need to enroll in the best boarding houses several years before retirement. What makes nursing homes so popular in the US, and why do seniors so often choose to live in a nursing home over living in their own home with their children and grandchildren? In order to understand this, it is necessary to take a closer look at the activities of geriatric institutions in the United States.

From the background

The first nursing homes in America began to appear in the 30s of the last century, but at that time their work was not regulated by the state, and the institutions themselves (by the way, all nursing homes in those years belonged to private individuals) resembled ordinary social homes, where the elderly found themselves the bare minimum of services. However, starting in 1935, the state still financed nursing homes and helped poor old people get a job in one of these institutions. Many programs operated to help people who lost all their savings during the Great Depression.

A revolution in the field of old age welfare occurred in 1965, when the Federal Government of the country established a new social insurance program Medicare, which guaranteed the right to social security to all citizens over 65 years of age. The activities of this program relied heavily on the creation of a larger network of nursing homes, which were regulated by government agencies. It was from the moment the Medicare program appeared in the United States that the era of building all kinds of institutions for the elderly began.

However, despite the efforts of the state and private individuals, American nursing homes were still far from ideal and had numerous problems. According to studies, in the second half of the 20th century, about 5% of all old people in nursing homes had developmental disabilities, an even larger number of elderly people were seriously ill and needed constant medical support. Nursing homes were not ready to provide proper medical services, which created serious problems.

Another stumbling block was rent (the cost of living), which not all guests could pay. To solve all these problems, another reform was undertaken, which introduced certain rules for owners of nursing homes, as well as the procedure for helping poor old people who need care within such institutions.

In 1998, the state again turned its attention to nursing homes, this time to the quality of their work. Nursing homes were closely monitored; inspectors ensured that all old people received high-quality, safe food, highly qualified medical services, and proper care. In early 2000, minimum care ratios were introduced for nursing homes. Since then, the retirement home market in America has been growing rapidly, and the quality of the services provided has been getting better.

Institutions for the elderly in America today

The main difference between modern nursing homes in the United States and similar institutions in Russia is that almost all of them are private, not public. An elderly person pays for living in a nursing home from his own funds, in rare cases he can count on government assistance, subsidies, etc. The average rent ranges from $100 to $160 per day, but this figure can be significantly higher, depending on the class of the institution and the availability of additional services. There are also a few free houses for low-income pensioners, where not the pensioner himself pays for accommodation, but the state.

You can get into a nursing home in the United States of your own free will or according to the decision of doctors. In order to send the old man to a nursing home, a council of doctors, social workers and lawyers gathers, who decide on the capacity of the elderly person. Often in such cases, the state sells all available property to pay for a lifetime stay in a nursing home.

Varieties of nursing homes

Social security for the elderly in the United States is not limited to standard nursing homes. There are several main types of geriatric institutions operating in America:

• Homes for pensioners. An ordinary apartment building, where each pensioner lives in his own small apartment, which is paid for by the state. An analogue of Russian social houses.
• Hotel-boarding house. Elderly people live here on a permanent basis, receive not only care services, but also medical care. The average number is about 100-150 people.
• Boarding house. It differs from the hotel-boarding house only in its number, designed for 10-15 people, as a rule, living here is more comfortable.
• Sister’s house. An institution where the main focus is on medical care. As a rule, seriously ill pensioners live here.
• Nursing home with day care. You can stay here only during the daytime, at night all the old people go home.

In general, in nursing homes in the United States, an elderly person can count on the same range of services as in private boarding houses in Russia: accommodation, care, medical care, and leisure activities. The quantity and quality of services provided is determined by the cost of living, the higher it is, the more the nursing home resembles a country club or an elite hotel. The state regulates the activities of private nursing homes and ensures that even the most inexpensive ones comply with certain operating standards.

The main difference in the field of geriatric care in the United States is that the desire to send a relative to a nursing home is not condemned by society, on the contrary, the opportunity to live in old age in a good nursing home is a sign of success. This attitude towards nursing homes also affects the quality of their work, as high competition and government regulation force owners to improve the quality of their services year after year. I would like to believe that soon in our country, nursing homes will cease to be something frightening, and will become a great opportunity to spend your old age in comfort and coziness.

Nursing homes around the world

Sun, 05/12/2019 – 17:23

The world’s population is rapidly aging. Over the past three decades, the number of people over 60 on the planet has doubled. Experts predict that by 2050 their share will increase by 2 times. The issue of nursing homes is relevant now more than ever.

In Ukraine, unlike most of the highly developed countries of the world, the private social structure is still at the initial stage of its development. For example, in France there are more than 7 thousand, in the USA – more than 20 thousand, in Russia – about 1. 5 thousand nursing homes. There are far fewer of them in our country. The ratio of the monthly pension to the cost of living in a home for the elderly and disabled is 41% in the US, 51.8% in France, 36.8% in Japan, and 60.1% in the UK.

Nursing homes in Japan

In Japan, the problem of population aging is most acute. More than 25% of the country’s population are people over 65, so the services of nursing homes are in great demand. People have to stand in line to get into such institutions. There are up to half a million people on the “waiting list” every year.

Nursing homes in Europe

In Europe, in particular in the Netherlands, it is the norm for an elderly person to live in a nursing home. But here boarding houses for people who have reached retirement age bear little resemblance to social institutions, they rather resemble comfortable hotels located in busy urban areas. Elderly people are not taken out of town, because it is believed that fresh air is not so much important for them as the opportunity to be among people and actively communicate. A pensioner can acquire ownership or rent a service apartment, where all conditions are created for the elderly, patronage and medical care are provided.
In France, the system of care for the elderly is one of the most developed in the world. Huge funds are allocated in the country to help needy pensioners over the age of 60. Their maintenance in boarding houses is financed from three sources:

• APA program;
• Ministry of Health;
• means of relatives.

Nursing Homes in America

In the United States, the stay of elderly people in nursing homes is not considered as a bad attitude of children towards parents. According to statistics, more than 3% of elderly people spend the last segment of their lives in them. There are several types of boarding houses for the elderly and disabled in the country:

• Community – separate communities for pensioners over 67 years old. These are entire residential areas with special low-rise buildings that allow people with disabilities to live comfortably. Pensioners, if desired, can buy or rent them. Communities are closed communities where older people are surrounded by their peers. This form of residence is considered the most affordable.
• Assisted living – institutions that support life. When an elderly person needs any help or various forms of support – physical, medical and social, he can live in boarding houses of this type. They provide a wide range of basic and additional services, as well as many options for levels of care. Each guest lives in a separate room, which must have an urgent call button. Nursing Homes in America “Supported Life” are subject to government oversight.
• Nursing home is a kind of hospital for the elderly. They provide full medical care. People who are not capable of self-service and who need constant medical care and assistance end up in such houses. In Nyosing home, several people usually live in one room, next to them there is a nurse 24 hours a day. This structure has specialized homes for the elderly with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition, there are nursing homes in the US where people can come for one day.

Nursing homes in Israel

There are two types of homes for the elderly in Israel:

• Hostels. Hostels are social housing for pensioners and the poor. This form of accommodation involves only the services of a social worker, the elderly do everything else themselves – cook their own food, clean, wash.
• Beit Avot. Beit Avot is a nursing home in Israel in the classical sense. They provide medical and nursing care for the elderly.

In Israel, there are several categories of boarding houses for pensioners: for independent people, for those who need little help, for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, for wheelchair users, as well as for seriously ill people, bedridden patients not capable of self-care.

Statistics say that the happiest old people live in Austria, Sweden, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Norway. The elderly in these countries are not afraid of the prospect of going to a nursing home.