Studies show that changing life-styles and medical breakthroughs will likely reduce the institutionalized rate over the years as improved health will enable more people to remain independent of custodial care for longer periods of time. Although a smaller percentage of the total elderly population will be institutionalized, the number of elderly people needing institutional care is constantly increasing due to the influx of elderly residents into the area. The principal reasons for this increased demand is a rapid rise in the number of senior citizens within the district. Another factor is improved payment under Medicaid, the principal sponsor of nursing home patients. Current government efforts to reduce hospital stays could further accelerate the demand for nursing home placements.
Clients receive room, board and personal care.
There has been further discussion about the need for another level of care between nursing homes and ACLF's in which clients would receive limited medical are. To calculate an estimate of the need for future ACLF spaces, the ratio in 1986 of 2.83 percent of the estimated elderly population using these facilities is held constant over time. The ratio was applied to both males and females over 65, since these type of group homes are sometimes provided separately according to sex. Based on 1990 Census information, it is estimated that 68 percent of the residents of ACLF's will be females. On the other hand, if more at-home services are provided in the future, an increasing number of elderly will be able to remain in their own home for longer periods of time.