When is nursing home care needed?
Nursing Homes provide 24-hour, skilled nursing care for older adults who have severe physical health and/or mental disabilities, but do not require hospital care. Those who qualify also have difficulties performing one or more of the activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, walking or toileting.
Nursing homes are also suitable for those needing rehabilitation after a hospital stay before they go home.
Twenty-five percent of people admitted to a nursing home stay only a short time (3 months or less). Many of the people who stay for a short time are admitted for rehabilitation or for terminal (i.e., end-of-life) or acute care. About half of residents spend at least 1 year in the nursing home, and 21 percent live there for almost 5 years.<
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