AgePage

National Institute on Aging

 

Nursing Homes:

Making the

Right Choice

Emma’s family didn’t know what to 

do. Her son put grab bars in the shower. 

Her daughter brought lunch over every 

day. The neighbors checked in often. 

But at 82 Emma needed more help. 

She wasn’t able to manage her medicines and she was having a regular 

problem with incontinence. Then 

she forgot to take her key out of the front 

door, and she left the water running in 

the kitchen sink all night. Staying 

home alone just wasn’t 

working for Emma.

There are many

choices that Emma’s

family might

look into—

one of them is a

nursing home.

What Is a Nursing Home?

A nursing home is a place for

people who don’t need to be in

a hospital but can no longer be

cared for at home. Most nursing

homes have nursing aides and

skilled nurses on hand 24-hours

a day. Sometimes a nursing

home is the best choice for

people who need personal

and medical care.

Nursing homes can be:

Hospital-like. This type of nursing

home is often set up like a hospital.

Staff give medical care, as well as

physical, speech, and occupational

therapy. There can be a nurses

station on each floor. As a rule,

one or two people live in a room.

A number of nursing homes will

let couples live together. Things

that make a room special, like

family photos, are often welcome.

Household-like. These facilities are

designed to be more like homes and

the day-to-day routine isn’t fixed.

Teams of staff and residents try to

create a neighborhood feel. Kitchens

are often open to residents, decorations give a sense of home, and staff
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

 

Nursing Homes:

Making the

Right Choice

Emma’s family didn’t know what to 

do. Her son put grab bars in the shower. 

Her daughter brought lunch over every 

day. The neighbors checked in often. 

But at 82 Emma needed more help. 

She wasn’t able to manage her medicines and she was having a regular 

problem with incontinence. Then 

she forgot to take her key out of the front 

door, and she left the water running in 

the kitchen sink all night. Staying 

home alone just wasn’t 

working for Emma.

There are many

choices that Emma’s

family might

look into—

one of them is a

nursing home.

What Is a Nursing Home?

A nursing home is a place for

people who don’t need to be in

a hospital but can no longer be

cared for at home. Most nursing

homes have nursing aides and

skilled nurses on hand 24-hours

a day. Sometimes a nursing

home is the best choice for

people who need personal

and medical care.

Nursing homes can be:

Hospital-like. This type of nursing

home is often set up like a hospital.

Staff give medical care, as well as

physical, speech, and occupational

therapy. There can be a nurses

station on each floor. As a rule,

one or two people live in a room.

A number of nursing homes will

let couples live together. Things

that make a room special, like

family photos, are often welcome.

Household-like. These facilities are

designed to be more like homes and

the day-to-day routine isn’t fixed.

Teams of staff and residents try to

create a neighborhood feel. Kitchens

are often open to residents, decorations give a sense of home, and staff
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

 

Nursing Homes:

Making the

Right Choice

Emma’s family didn’t know what to 

do. Her son put grab bars in the shower. 

Her daughter brought lunch over every 

day. The neighbors checked in often. 

But at 82 Emma needed more help. 

She wasn’t able to manage her medicines and she was having a regular 

problem with incontinence. Then 

she forgot to take her key out of the front 

door, and she left the water running in 

the kitchen sink all night. Staying 

home alone just wasn’t 

working for Emma.

There are many

choices that Emma’s

family might

look into—

one of them is a

nursing home.

What Is a Nursing Home?

A nursing home is a place for

people who don’t need to be in

a hospital but can no longer be

cared for at home. Most nursing

homes have nursing aides and

skilled nurses on hand 24-hours

a day. Sometimes a nursing

home is the best choice for

people who need personal

and medical care.

Nursing homes can be:

Hospital-like. This type of nursing

home is often set up like a hospital.

Staff give medical care, as well as

physical, speech, and occupational

therapy. There can be a nurses

station on each floor. As a rule,

one or two people live in a room.

A number of nursing homes will

let couples live together. Things

that make a room special, like

family photos, are often welcome.

Household-like. These facilities are

designed to be more like homes and

the day-to-day routine isn’t fixed.

Teams of staff and residents try to

create a neighborhood feel. Kitchens

are often open to residents, decorations give a sense of home, and staff
  

carefully at several policies

before making a choice.

Many people

believe Medicare

will pay for long

stays in a nursing

home, but it doesn’t.

It is important to

check with Medicare and private

“Medigap” (Medicare add-on) insurance to find out the

current rules. For example, Medicare

may only cover the first 100 days in

a skilled nursing home for people

needing special care after leaving

the hospital.

When thinking about costs, keep

in mind that there can be extra outof-pocket charges for some supplies,

personal care like hair appointments,

laundry, and services that are outside

routine care.

Resources That Can Help

The rules about programs and benefits for nursing homes can change.

Medicare has some helpful resources

online. Visit www.medicare.gov for

information about different

care options.

You can find nursing homes

in your area that are approved by

the CMS by visiting the Medicare

website. You can also see summaries of recent inspection reports.

Visit Nursing Home Compare at

www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.

The Nursing Home Checklist at

the same website is a good guide

to use when thinking about

nursing homes.

Many States have State Health

Insurance Counseling and Assistance

Programs (SHIP). These programs

can help you choose the health

insurance that is right for you and

your family. Visit www.medicare.gov/

Nursing/Payment.asp.

Each State also has a LongTerm Care Ombudsman office that

helps people learn about long-term

care. Your local office may be able

to answer general questions about

a specific nursing home. Also, once

you are living in a nursing home,

the Ombudsman can help solve

problems you may have with a

facility. The National Long-Term

Care Ombudsman Resource Center

has more information. Visit

www.ltcombudsman.org.
  

carefully at several policies

before making a choice.

Many people

believe Medicare

will pay for long

stays in a nursing

home, but it doesn’t.

It is important to

check with Medicare and private

“Medigap” (Medicare add-on) insurance to find out the

current rules. For example, Medicare

may only cover the first 100 days in

a skilled nursing home for people

needing special care after leaving

the hospital.

When thinking about costs, keep

in mind that there can be extra outof-pocket charges for some supplies,

personal care like hair appointments,

laundry, and services that are outside

routine care.

Resources That Can Help

The rules about programs and benefits for nursing homes can change.

Medicare has some helpful resources

online. Visit www.medicare.gov for

information about different

care options.

You can find nursing homes

in your area that are approved by

the CMS by visiting the Medicare

website. You can also see summaries of recent inspection reports.

Visit Nursing Home Compare at

www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.

The Nursing Home Checklist at

the same website is a good guide

to use when thinking about

nursing homes.

Many States have State Health

Insurance Counseling and Assistance

Programs (SHIP). These programs

can help you choose the health

insurance that is right for you and

your family. Visit www.medicare.gov/

Nursing/Payment.asp.

Each State also has a LongTerm Care Ombudsman office that

helps people learn about long-term

care. Your local office may be able

to answer general questions about

a specific nursing home. Also, once

you are living in a nursing home,

the Ombudsman can help solve

problems you may have with a

facility. The National Long-Term

Care Ombudsman Resource Center

has more information. Visit

www.ltcombudsman.org.
  

carefully at several policies

before making a choice.

Many people

believe Medicare

will pay for long

stays in a nursing

home, but it doesn’t.

It is important to

check with Medicare and private

“Medigap” (Medicare add-on) insurance to find out the

current rules. For example, Medicare

may only cover the first 100 days in

a skilled nursing home for people

needing special care after leaving

the hospital.

When thinking about costs, keep

in mind that there can be extra outof-pocket charges for some supplies,

personal care like hair appointments,

laundry, and services that are outside

routine care.

Resources That Can Help

The rules about programs and benefits for nursing homes can change.

Medicare has some helpful resources

online. Visit www.medicare.gov for

information about different

care options.

You can find nursing homes

in your area that are approved by

the CMS by visiting the Medicare

website. You can also see summaries of recent inspection reports.

Visit Nursing Home Compare at

www.medicare.gov/NHCompare.

The Nursing Home Checklist at

the same website is a good guide

to use when thinking about

nursing homes.

Many States have State Health

Insurance Counseling and Assistance

Programs (SHIP). These programs

can help you choose the health

insurance that is right for you and

your family. Visit www.medicare.gov/

Nursing/Payment.asp.

Each State also has a LongTerm Care Ombudsman office that

helps people learn about long-term

care. Your local office may be able

to answer general questions about

a specific nursing home. Also, once

you are living in a nursing home,

the Ombudsman can help solve

problems you may have with a

facility. The National Long-Term

Care Ombudsman Resource Center

has more information. Visit

www.ltcombudsman.org.