At some point in our lives many of us will require long-term nursing care in a nursing home. So, it’s a good idea for you and your loved ones to be well-informed about what this entails. However, it’s important to understand that not all people requiring care in nursing homes are the very elderly. In fact, according to some studies, around 40 per cent of people requiring long-term care are under 65.

Usually, it’s people with a disability, or other serious health condition that need nursing care. Obviously, as we age and become frailer, the greater the chances that we’ll need this kind of care. Unpaid family members and friends are the ones most likely to be providing long-term nursing care at home. But there often comes a point when you may need full-time nursing care in a nursing home.

Haym Salomon Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Brooklyn NY is for both adults and seniors. Its skilled and multilingual staff aim to provide the best nursing care achievable. Long-term care here and in other homes is designed to help people stay independent for as long as possible.

Senior man sitting on couch enjoying long-term nursing care

So what does long term nursing care involve?

This involves the provision of a variety of services to meet a person’s health or personal care needs. Nursing homes offer a safe, secure and convivial family atmosphere as well as the requisite medical expertise. They aim to get patients to do as much as they can for themselves, through friendly encouragement. Each patient has a tailored care program worked out in consultation with the doctors, nurses and the family.

Long-term nursing care (also known as custodial care) is a mixture of clinical and personal care. Often the latter is the predominant type of care as the infirm need every-day help with daily living. This includes showering, dressing, hair-brushing, foot care, using the toilet, eating, and moving around.

How long do seniors stay in nursing homes?

Surveys indicate that the average length of stay for patients in nursing homes is almost 2.5 years. Obviously, there are huge variations depending on the health condition of the individual patient. For those patients who can be discharged the average length of stay is around nine months.

Many of us (50-70 per cent of people over 65) will die in a nursing home. Well over half of all patients admitted to nursing homes die within a year. Half of that number die within six months of admission. The average stay for patients that die in a nursing home is around two years. A few patients spend many years in a nursing home.

You tend to be at greater risk of needing long-term nursing care if you are single or very old. Family history, and poor diet and exercise habits are further risk factors.

Women tend to stay in nursing homes slightly longer than men. And people over 85 tend to have a longer average stay of over 2.5 years. There are also differences between different ethnic groups.

What qualifies you for long-term nursing care?

This is very simple. If you are unable to look after yourself and/or have a serious medical condition, you may require long-term nursing care. If you have no one able or willing to look after you, your only option may be a nursing home.

Haym Salomon Home provides a high quality of life for its long-term care patients. We do everything to make you and your family feel at home. Look no further and contact us if you want top quality medical care, motivated, multilingual staff, a family atmosphere, and beautiful surroundings. The Home offers outstanding and attentive long-term nursing care to adults and seniors alike.

This content comprises informative and educational resources only and can not be considered as a substitute for professional health or medical guidance. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk. If you have any inquiries or apprehensions about your medical condition or health goals, talk with a licensed physician or healthcare provider.