number of residents in nursing homes
In 2004, about 1.5 million people lived in. nursing homes in the U.S. Most residents are. elderly: 88% of nursing home residents are 65 or. older, and 45% are 85 or older. Yet only 2% of. Americans age 65 to 84 and 14% of Americans. age 85 or older live in nursing homes. 1. The number of nursing home residents has. remained approximately constant since 1985, but as a proportion of the population likely to. need long-term care, it actually has declined.