Nursing Homes: Benefits, Quality of Life and Costs

Seniors who need constant nursing care and help with their everyday activities live in a nursing home. Aside from seniors, younger people with certain physical and mental disabilities also live in nursing homes.

Nursing homes are required to have state licence, and are subject to state laws and regulations. Homes that choose to participate in Medicaid and/or Medicare are required to have licensed practical nurses or (also called LPNs) 24 hours per day. Registered nurse is required to be on duty for at least 8 hours per day, 7 days per week.

BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A NURSING HOME
Living in a nursing home facility has many benefits, one of which is your piece of mind – knowing that you or your loved one will be well taken care of in a nursing home that perfectly fits all your/their needs. Here are a few more nursing homes benefits:

1. Daily Living Services
Nursing homes offer daily living services to their residents – assistance with walking, eating, drinking, bathing etc.

2. Food and Drink Services
Residents get 3 healthy, nutritious meals per day, which are either eaten in a dining room or you or your loved one’s room.

4. Daily Task Services
Professionals who work at nursing homes help their residents with daily tasks, such as doing laundry, vacuuming, dusting, washing dishes etc.

5. Healthcare Services
There are a number of dedicated, medical staff on duty who offer medical assistance and supervision services to all residents of nursing homes. This is extremely important if you want to have a piece of mind, knowing that you or your loved one is safe.

6. Safety and Recreational Services
Nursing homes offer 24-hour safety services, along with many recreational activities. Recreational activities will help elderly to engage with other residents and enjoy their social lives. These recreational activities vary, mainly depending of the residents’ health and interests.

QUALITY OF LIFE IN NURSING HOMES
Seniors who need to live in a nursing home are not able to care for themselves – they are not able to live independently. As they get older, people get sicker and sicker and their quality of life starts to deteriorate. In order to improve their overall quality of life, seniors move into a nursing home that perfectly fits all their needs.

Nurses take care of all their medical needs, and other professional and friendly staff take care of the housekeeping, meal preparation etc. This gives seniors plenty of time to socialize and enjoy their time in a nursing home. They are treated with respect, care and as members of a big family. This way, they get to feel like a part of one big family. Seniors get connected with the nurses and other staff, and they aren’t lonely and depressed. Emotional happiness means a lot when it comes to improving your loved one’s quality of life.

COSTS INVOLVED WITH LIVING IN A NURSING HOME
Nursing homes are very expensive, and unfortunately, they are getting more and more expensive every year. The cost of a nursing home varies greatly and depends on many factors (such as location of the nursing home, services included, number of staff etc.). Average price of a private room in a nursing home is about $185+/per day, which adds up to $62,000+ per year.

Before you decide which nursing home is best for you or your loved one, you have to think about whether you can afford it. Fortunately, there are a few payment options you can take into account when thinking about financial aspect of living in a nursing home. Payment options for skilled nursing facilities include:
- Private pay
- Long-term care insurance
- Medicare
- Medicaid

If you need help with finding an adult care facility, nursing home or an assisted living facility, please visit Adult Care Placement Oregon, a senior care in Oregon website, that helps you find the best senior and health care facility in Oregon for free.

Tags: benefits, costs, Homes, Life, Nursing, Quality