LTC Options - Nursing Home Care

Nursing Home Care

Nursing homes, also called Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) or convalescent care facilities, provide a wide range of services, including nursing care, 24-hour supervision, assistance with Activities of Daily Living, and rehabilitation services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Some people need nursing home services for a short period of time for recovery or rehabilitation after a serious illness or operation, while others need longer stays because of chronic physical, health or cognitive conditions that require constant care or supervision.

Families typically seek nursing home care when it is no longer possible to care for a person at home safely or when the cost of round-the-clock care at home becomes too great. Nursing homes are highly regulated and must be licensed by the state.

How Long Do People Typically Stay in a Nursing Home?

  • 34% 1 - 5 years
  • 27% Less than 3 months
  • 20% 3 months to 1 year
  • 19% More than 5 years

2009 Average Nursing Home Costs:

$198/day for a semi-private room in a nursing home. That's $72,270 per year.

$219/day for a private room in a nursing home. That's $79,935 per year.

These numbers are based on national averages. Costs vary by location and provider.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.longtermcare.gov)