LONG TERM CARE – WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW

1. LONG TERM CARE – WHAT EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW Senior Services of Alexandria May 8, 2013 Eileen Spinella, Director of Marketing & Admissions Mt. Vernon Nursing & Rehab Center

2. Wikipedia’s Definition of “Nursing Home” • A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing facility (SNF), carehome, rest home or intermediate care – provides a type of residential care. They are a place of residence for people who require continual nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living. Nursing aides and skilled nurses are usually available 24 hours a day. • Residents include the elderly and younger adults with physical or mental disabilities.

3. Facts about Nursing Homes • There are 17,000 nursing homes in the United States • 1.6 million people live in nursing homes • The average no. of beds per home is 107, with an occupancy rate of 88% • More than 90% of current residents are 65 years of age or older. Almost half are 85 years of age. • The average age upon admission to a nursing home is 79. • Women are almost 3 times as likely to live in nursing homes than men. • In 2000, 4.5% of Americans 65 years and older lived in nursing homes, a decline from 5.1% in 1990. Sources: American Health Care Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

4. Facts About Nursing Homes (continued) • In 1999 – 2000, the average nursing facility resident required assistance with 3.75 activities of daily living. 5 common activities are used to measure the functionality of a patient – bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting, & eating. • 42% of nursing home residents suffer from some form of dementia. • 33% of nursing home residents have documented symptoms of depression. • 67% of nursing home facilities were for-profit in 1999 – 2000, 26 % were nonprofit and 7% were government owned and operated. Sources: American Health Care Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

5. Nursing Home Services Nursing homes offer the most extensive care a person can get outside a hospital. Nursing homes offer help with custodial care – like bathing, dressing, and eating – as well as skilled care given by a registered nurse and includes medical monitoring and treatments. Skilled care also includes services provided by specialty trained professionals such as physical, occupational, and respiratory therapists. Other services include: • Room and board • Monitoring of Medication • 24-hour emergency care • Social and recreational activities

6. Choosing a Nursing Home Resources to learn more about nursing homes in your area: • Local Long-Term Care Ombudsman – www.vda.Virginia.gov/ombudsman.asp. • Eldercare Locator – www.eldercare.gov/1-800-677-1116 • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – www.medicare.gov to access the Nursing Home Quality Initiative. Provides an Overall Rating, a Health Inspection Rating, a Staffing Rating, and a Quality Measure Rating for each nursing home.

7. Changes in Long Term Care In the past 6 years, the number of nursing homes in the U.S. has declined by approximately 350%. Furthermore, the percentage of elderly in nursing homes dropped from 9.6% in 1985 to 6.4% in 2004. This shift is primarily due to: • Reduction in Medicare & Medicaid reimbursement for nursing home care. • Viable alternatives to nursing home care, such as Assisted Living and Home Care. • The traditional Nursing Home providing primarily short-term rehabilitative services.

8. Changes in Long Term Care (continued) Trends in Long Term Care • Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE – provides the same services that a nursing home would while allowing the elderly patients to remain in the comfort of their own homes. • Resident-Centered Environment – nursing homes are creating a more “home-like” and less institutional environment while providing the same level of care. Such organizations as The Eden Alternative (www.edenalt.org) and The Greenhouse Project (www.the greenhouseproject.org) have led the way in this culture shift.

9. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND THIS TIME WITH YOU TODAY!