More people are living into their 80s and beyond, and more of them are living alone. An accident, chronic condition,
or progressive decline in functional abilities can easily sideline a person’s ability to live independently. Nursing
homes are not the answer. Some industry experts maintain that one-fifth to one-third of nursing home residents should
not be there in the first place. Their needs would be better served by alternatives within the community if available.
On a limited scale, a number of federal demonstration projects have proven this true, and have shown the
dollars-and-cents benefits of keeping the elderly out of nursing homes. This economic efficiency coincides nicely with
the overwhelming preference people have to stay out of traditional nursing homes as long as they possibly can.
More people are living into their 80s and beyond, and more of them are living alone. An accident, chronic condition,
or progressive decline in functional abilities can easily sideline a person’s ability to live independently. Nursing
homes are not the answer. Some industry experts maintain that one-fifth to one-third of nursing home residents should
not be there in the first place. Their needs would be better served by alternatives within the community if available.
On a limited scale, a number of federal demonstration projects have proven this true, and have shown the
dollars-and-cents benefits of keeping the elderly out of nursing homes. This economic efficiency coincides nicely with
the overwhelming preference people have to stay out of traditional nursing homes as long as they possibly can.