Nursing Home Realities. Get the Facts!

The Realities of Nursing Home Care

If you have been considering a nursing home for your loved one, you already
Know that it’s not an easy decision, nor an inexpensive one. In 1990, the average cost
For a year in a nursing home was $ 30,000. (NAELA.com., n.d.)

While only about 5% of elderly live in nursing homes, over 40% of people 65 and over will at some time require a nursing home or long-term care facility. Less than 1/3 of those, however, are financially prepared for it. Medicare pays approximately 45 % of nursing facility costs. (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, NAELA.com,( n.d.)

Many elderly or chronically debilitated people live with their spouse or family members. Many adult children have become caregivers. Often, the physical and emotional toll on the caregivers becomes unbearable. Most people would prefer to take care of their spouses or parents, but sometimes this becomes impossible. There are alternatives to nursing home care that are worth considering. Respite care gives the caregiver a break, and providers can be found through contacting your doctor, or senior services agencies in your community. Sometimes, in-home nurse’s visits are the best option. In-home caregivers are a good option if the person requiring care does not need skilled nursing care.

If a nursing home is your family’s decision, there are some important things to consider when choosing a facility. Having worked as a nurses’ aide in three different care facilities, my eyes were opened to the realities of what really goes on in a nursing home. While most staff members are dedicated, caring professionals, they are faced with a shortage of help. Nurse’s aides pay rate in the state of Oregon, for example, starts out in nursing homes at a level which barely exceeds minimum wage. This is important because the workload and stress level of the job is high. Many quickly burnout and leave the profession, or plan to leave after they continue on with schooling to become licensed or registered nurses. The majority of daily care the residents receive comes directly from the nurse’s aides. Additionally, in Oregon, there is a class of aide called a “hospitality aide