Nursing Research Paper

Nursing Care

When I started this assignment I had no idea where it was going to lead me. To be honest it was one of the most uninteresting topics I could have done. With that being said, I’m the one that chose it! So I did my research and this is what I learned.
I learned there are quite a few different types of environments that offer nursing care. I already new of “Skilled Nursing” (or Nursing Homes).   It’s the most common facility known through out the country for seniors to be cared for 24 hours a day. Its known as a “Long term care facility”, which generally refers to nearly 70% of the Americans aged 65 or older. Projections show that the older population will grow significantly in the years to come. As life expectancy continues to increase and the baby boomers grow older, the proportion of the population represented by older Americans is estimated to increase by 30% by the year 2030. Moreover, older Americans will represent 20% of the entire population. This makes me question whether the long-term care industry is well enough equipped to fulfill the long-term care needs of the elderly.
Approximately 4.5% of older Americans lived in United States’ nursing homes in 2004.The average age of an individual when he or she is admitted into a nursing home is 79 years old. It’s also been shown that women living in nursing homes outnumber men 3 to 1 (Aging 2008).
Assisted living facilities, generally provide basic care for chronic illnesses and some assistance with activities of daily living. Assisted living facilities emerged in the United States in the mid 1980s and have experienced great increases in numbers. Data on nursing homes suggesting declines in its use over time has been explained by some as the result of increased use of assisted living facilities (Wright 2004).
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) are yet another source of long- term care for the elderly. This care setting often includes a skilled nursing facility, but the level of... [continues]

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