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What Age Do Most People Go Into a Nursing Home?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
The average age of admission into a nursing home is 83, and almost half of all residents are placed in nursing homes at age 85 or older. Nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing care and supervision to individuals who have a medical condition or disability that makes them unable to safely remain in their own homes or in an assisted living community.
Seniors who require a nursing home level of care can often get support for that care via Medicaid waivers or local programs for low-income older adults. Those who prefer to avoid nursing home placement may be able to use a combination of home health care services to help them remain in their own homes for longer.
Younger Adults May Also Live in Nursing Homes
According to a recent report by the NCHS, 16.9% of people who live in nursing homes are under the age of 65. Some of these individuals live in a nursing home long-term due to a disability or illness. Others have a shorter stay, such as while recuperating from an injury or operation. Medicare may cover the cost of short-term stays, and other programs are available to help younger adults who require long-term care.
Not Everyone Moves Into a Nursing Home Permanently
For many seniors who move into a nursing home, the transition is permanent. The mean length of stay in a nursing home is 13.7 months. However, some seniors are able to move back to their family homes after a stay in a nursing facility. This may be the case if the reason for their stay was to recuperate after an operation or to heal after suffering an injury from a fall. Physical and occupational therapies can help seniors get back on their feet and return to their normal lives as quickly as possible.