Twenty years ago, experts predicted that seniors would face a shortage of caregivers and clinicians as the Baby Boomer generation aged into retirement. They explained that caregiving “is intimate and labor-intensive and can be especially difficult when done for an aging parent.” It is challenging to attract workers who are willing to perform “unglamorous” work […]
The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on nursing home residents. Early in the pandemic, nursing homes accounted for more than 40% of all COVID-19 deaths in the US. That statistic may be understated because the National Healthcare Safety Network did not require nursing homes to report deaths from COVID-19 until the pandemic was well […]
Nursing homes provide residential care for patients who need around-the-clock medical attention. The National Center for Health Statistics reports that nearly two-thirds of nursing home residents are over the age of 75, while more than a third are over the age of 85. About 1.4 million patients reside in more than 15,600 nursing homes in […]
Updated April 2025 When they can, seniors typically choose to live independently. Some remain in a family home while others downsize or enjoy the comfort of a retirement community. Seniors who need assistance coping with health conditions may depend on family members for help. They may instead opt to reside in an assisted living facility. […]
Updated June 2025 Aging Americans have a wide variety of living options. The right choice is usually determined by a combination of need and affordability. Maximizing independence is the goal of most seniors. Whether that means staying in a family home, downsizing, or moving to a retirement community is a decision that healthy seniors will […]
Updated June 2025 Many of the nation’s nursing homes deliver quality care to people who desperately need it. Still, some deliver care more capably than others. How do consumers evaluate the promises that nursing homes make to provide excellent care to their loved ones? With the best of intentions, the federal government instituted a rating […]
As the country reopens and stay-at-home orders are eased, the risk to seniors from COVID-19 may increase. While the curve has flattened in some parts of the country, infected people still inhabit every state. Since a large percentage of individuals who carry the coronavirus have no symptoms — and may never develop symptoms — it […]
Nursing home residents and their advocates have scored some improvements in the types and quality of care provided. But in many facilities, the caring concept of “nursing” and “home” are still hard to come by. While lauding the good changes, Eric Carlson, directing attorney of the advocacy group Justice in Aging, describes the 10 most common complaints […]
About 1.2 million individuals currently reside in nearly 15,000 nursing homes nationwide. For many, it’s the best place to receive care and housing; for some, it’s the only real option. But for too many, there is a documented dark side behind closed doors: abuse and neglect. Periodic reports of the wrongs committed have resulted in […]
Statistics on the burgeoning growth of the population of older people and their likely need for future care are frequently trumpeted. The Census Bureau estimates that 59.2 million Americans were age 65 or older in 2023, a 9% increase since the 2020 census. By 2060, the number of Americans in that age range is projected to […]