A nursing home is for people who do not need to be in a hospital but cannot be cared for at home. Most have nursing aides and skilled nurses on hand 24 hours a day.
Two styles of care
Nursing homes vary a good deal in how they feel and run.
| More like a hospital | More like home | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | often a nurses’ station on each floor | aims for a neighborhood feel |
| Care | medical care, plus physical, speech and occupational therapy | staff are encouraged to build relationships with residents |
| Routine | structured | often no fixed daily schedule; kitchens may be open to residents |
Other things to look for
- Memory care: some nursing homes have special units for people with serious memory problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease.
- Couples: some let couples live together.
Not only for older adults
Nursing homes serve anyone who needs care around the clock, whatever their age — not just older people.
Sources
Based on "Nursing Homes," MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, drawing on the National Institute on Aging; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
LanguagesEnglish
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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