With more people living longer, the plight of aging seniors is becoming a national concern. Not only do they represent a larger proportion of the population than just a decade ago, they are also suffering from an increase in debilitating diseases like diabetes and dementia or Alzheimer’s.

What Does The Future Of Elderly Care Look Like?

It is estimated that so many people suffer from either diabetes or Alzheimer’s. Those with such medical problems require constant care. Traditionally the best option for this care was a nursing home. However, nursing homes aren’t the only long-term care option anymore. In fact, the government is trying to shift funding options to include non-institutional forms of care such as Home Health and Assisted Living facilities that are based out of residential homes. In 2013, the Medicaid program invested 46% of its yearly allotted income on providing home-health based services, some $56.6 billion.

As government spending continues to expand its attention to more personalized home-based care some changes will be made. Nursing homes will either have to modify their internal structure to reflect a more homey environment or  risk losing most of their government-supported clientele.

Demographic Changes Taking Place

As times change those who can afford it, opt for at home care causing institutional care facilities like nursing homes to experience a shift in demographics. Decades ago, the majority of nursing home residents were middle or upper-class Caucasians. Now the population has altered to include more minorities and fewer Caucasians. In a recent study it was found that between 1998 and 2008, the number of white residents in nursing homes decreased by more than 10%, while that of minorities such as African Americans and Hispanic increased greatly. In the ten year period recorded, the Asian population of residential homes increased by 54.1%, while the African-American population experienced a 10.8% increase.

As home health care and assisted living facilities increase in popularity, nursing homes remain the only option for those who occupy the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. While new assisted living homes are built in the suburbs, nursing homes tend to be in the inner city, providing mostly minority residents the medical care they cannot afford to get at home. Medicare and Medicaid continue to pay for nursing home care for the people who cannot afford better quality care. In the future it is likely that nursing homes will continue to provide the bare minimum resident care for those who cannot afford anything else; as the government spills millions of dollars into newer facilities that emphasize home-based care. Institutional living centers are likely to fall by the wayside, often running on limited funds and facing a possible hiring crisis.

Looking At The Advantages Of Nursing Homes

While a majority of health professionals and the United States government continue to race toward at-home or residential care in smaller settings, the perceived future of the nursing home doesn’t have to be so pessimistic. There are actually some very beneficial aspects to living in a residential nursing home facility. Some of these benefits are:

• Better access to nursing care and medical intervention when needed
• Higher level security for residents, since they live in a commercial facility instead of individual housing
• More inclusive knowledge of patients and their medical issues. Studies indicate that facilities that have more than 50 beds are almost three times more likely to have access to or use a thorough and well-maintained network of health information to better treat their residents’ health needs.
• Meal choices remain plentiful and healthy as larger homes utilize nutritionists and stock up on food regularly

While the future of the nursing home as we know looks bleak, the long-term residential facility can thrive under new management and a focus on resident health and safety. While many see nursing homes as squalid dwellings for those without the money to afford home health care, there are advantages to the old-style nursing home. All it takes is the cooperation of the government and the public to create a home with the highest standard of care and the modern aesthetics that will attract people of all socio-economic levels.