Crypto World
Nursing Homes Have Become Last-Resort Housing
Many patients in that situation wind up living on the streets or in shelters, despite efforts to find them permanent housing. A surprising number of older adults, however, find themselves in a nursing home—even if they don’t need or want that level of care.
According to research from the United Health Foundation, one in 11 people in nursing homes have “low-care needs,” meaning they do not require physical assistance for bed mobility, transferring, using the toilet, or eating. The ratios vary by state, from a low of 2.5% in Hawaii to nearly 23% in Oklahoma.
Synovec recalls one client in her 50s who lost her housing while she was in the hospital getting treatment for a stroke. Although a family member was willing to take her in, she couldn’t navigate their second-floor apartment. The stroke left her without the use of one arm and with mild cognitive problems, but she still was able to manage most daily activities, including taking the bus to visit family, friends, and her church. She needed some help—for example, with getting dressed—but she valued her independence.
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