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Decline in nursing home population defies conventional wisdom. Here’s why.
Over the past 20 years, a significant number of senior citizens, particularly among the “oldest old” – persons 85 and older – have been choosing to stay in their homes rather than move to nursing homes, according to a new study by The Lewin Group.
Several trends contribute to the decline:
- Disability rates among seniors declined between 1984-1999, and the poverty rate declined as well, giving seniors more care choices.
- The average stay in nursing homes declined from 2.9 years in 1985 to 2.4 years in 2004 because of changes in Medicare and other forces.
- Alternatives to nursing homes continue to be developed, such as assisted living and home-based services.
- Long Term Care insurance is increasingly available. Today, 10 percent of persons 65+ own an LTC policy. In the ‘80s, virtually none did.
- States are providing more home and community-based services.
Read the entire report here: www.lewin.com.
Tags: aging parents Portland, home caregivers, Senior Planning
