Skilled nursing facilities, often referred to as nursing homes, provide long-term, medically necessary treatment to residents of all ages. The majority of nursing home residents are seniors who need a higher level of care than they can receive at home, but do not need acute care in a hospital setting. Others are people of all ages who are rehabilitating from a major illness or injury.
Americans over the age of 65 have a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care in their remaining years, and about 25% of them will require care in a skilled nursing facility. The real numbers behind those projections are increasing exponentially as our population ages. In California, the 65+ population increased 34% between 2012 and 2022. That means more of us will need a nursing home or be responsible for arranging care at a nursing home for a loved one.
Finding a nursing home is emotionally and financially stressful — and not many know where to start. Learn about five tips that may help in this month’s Healthy Alameda column, published in the Alameda Post.