(Newswire.net — June 17, 2015) — Nobody likes to think of their parents, grandparents or other loved ones having to leave their homes to live in permanent residential care. However, in some cases it can be the best or only solution, as they may no longer be able to safely live where they currently do, or you may not have the ability to give them the care that they need in your own home. But, what percentage of our seniors actually do end up in nursing homes, and are there spaces for everyone who needs one?
Nursing Homes in America
The USA has a wide network of residential care homes for the elderly, with around 17,000 facilities offering just under 2 million beds. Interestingly, while people tend to assume all facilities of this kind are run for profit, 7% are government run and 27% are run by non profit organizations. Nursing homes are on average 83% occupied, according to statistics. While of course these figures fluctuate, they do give a picture of the nursing home landscape in America. Essentially, nationwide, there would always be 17% of beds available for people who need to move into them, and of these, 35% or so would be run by non profit or government agencies, which may be helpful to poorer seniors.
Of course, that is nationwide, and in a given state or city it could be far harder or far easier to find appropriate nursing home care for your loved one that you or they can afford.
Demographics of the Elderly
In the USA, 13% of the population are over 65, and therefore counted as senior citizens. 7% fall into the youngest group, aged between 65 and 74 – the least likely to be in residential care. 4% of the US population is aged between 75 and 84, and 1% are in the oldest category of 85 and over. Obviously the older a person is, the more likely they are to need to go and live in residential care.
How Many Seniors Are in Residential Care?
Seniors in residential care account for 5% of the overall senior citizen population. As you would expect, the rate of usage increases with the age of the elderly people concerned with just 1.4% of the youngest of the elderly demographic in nursing homes (usually those with serious health problems), and 50% of the over 90’s. The average life expectancy once someone has entered a nursing home is 6 months. This may sound a bit depressing, but in actual fact shows that most seniors are able to last for the vast majority of their old age before they need to go into care, thanks to at home care nurses, and products like residential elevators from www.home-elevator.net and stairlifts that can allow them to get around their homes even when mobility becomes reduced.
The number of seniors in residential care is lower than many people think, and these statistics are encouraging in terms of the availability of placements for seniors who need them.