Census 2000 reported there were 35 million people aged 65 years or older with 16.6 million aged 85 and older. It is estimated that a 65-year-old has a 43 percent chance of entering a nursing home at some point in his or her life. According to the 1999 National Nursing Home Survey, there were over 1.8 million beds nationwide with over 1.6 million current nursing home residents. Nearly half of all nursing home residents are admitted following hospitalization, while 30 percent come from private or semi-private residences. Unlike a typical ambulatory patient, the typical nursing home resident is older, in poorer health, and in need of higher level of care. This population is generally more sensitive to and less tolerant of many medications. In some cases, residents are unable to take drugs orally and must receive medications in a crushed or intravenous form. (White Paper)
Information and Assistance:
Information and Assistance helps older adults and their families connect with the services they need. County or Tribal Aging Unit staff keep up-to-date information so older residents can learn about available services.
Benefit Specialist Program:
Each county or tribe has a Benefit Specialist trained to help older persons who have problems concerning their private insurance, pension, or government benefits. Benefit Specialists are called "red tape cutters." They help older persons with the paperwork that is required in benefit programs.
Caring for People with Alzheimer’s disease:
The Alzheimer's Family Caregiver Support Program responds to the stress and service needs of families caring for someone with an irreversible dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.
Community Options Program (COP):
Home & Community-Based Long Term Care Services:
The purpose of the COP program is to keep older people and persons with disabilities out of nursing homes or other institutions and allow them to remain in the community..................
