With the increase in life expectancy in America, a new industry was born.
Nursing homes are establishments specifically designed to house and care for the increasing number of aging citizens who are incapable of caring for themselves.
This growing problem has paralyzed much of America as the children of these individuals are generally left alone to come up with a solution.
Many of these children are in the prime of their lives, with children and careers of their own.
When this happens, they have to put their lives on hold to deal with their parents' failing health.
Two of the most prevalent diseases affecting older citizens today are dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Of these, Alzheimer's disease is the most troublesome because of the lack of knowledge as to what causes it.
Despite the billions of dollars that have been funneled into research on the subject, there has been no specific cause found, and more troubling, no cure.
The other bothersome statistic concerning Alzheimer's disease is that new cases are being diagnosed at an alarming rate.
There have even been studies done that have projected that this disease has the capability of completely crippling the health care system of the United States if a cure is not found.
Nursing homes come in two varieties: private and state-sponsored.
Of the two, the private facilities are generally more expensive.
State-run facilities will all accept Medicaid as full payment.
Because of this, the majority of people that have to be housed because of failing health, memory, or physical issues are placed in the state-run facilities.
One of the problems is the high number of lawsuits and public outcries concerning the lack of proper care and the mistreatment of patients by the staff and workers at many of these state-run homes.
There are types of facilities available other than full-fledged nursing homes, and these can be categorized as residential care.
These facilities are specific to two classes of residents: those that are recovering from a surgery or accident and those that want to live out their lives in the company of other healthy retired individuals.
A retirement home is set up much like a hotel.
Residents can rent apartments and even have cars if they like.
The facility then caters to their every need.
These places have kitchens and cafeterias where all meals are served.
They even have hair salons on site, and generally a gym and/or pool for exercise.
There are also regularly scheduled outings off the grounds of the facility, such as shopping or sightseeing day trips.
And of course there is always a staff nurse or doctor available for the residents.
Nursing homes are establishments specifically designed to house and care for the increasing number of aging citizens who are incapable of caring for themselves.
This growing problem has paralyzed much of America as the children of these individuals are generally left alone to come up with a solution.
Many of these children are in the prime of their lives, with children and careers of their own.
When this happens, they have to put their lives on hold to deal with their parents' failing health.
Two of the most prevalent diseases affecting older citizens today are dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Of these, Alzheimer's disease is the most troublesome because of the lack of knowledge as to what causes it.
Despite the billions of dollars that have been funneled into research on the subject, there has been no specific cause found, and more troubling, no cure.
The other bothersome statistic concerning Alzheimer's disease is that new cases are being diagnosed at an alarming rate.
There have even been studies done that have projected that this disease has the capability of completely crippling the health care system of the United States if a cure is not found.
Nursing homes come in two varieties: private and state-sponsored.
Of the two, the private facilities are generally more expensive.
State-run facilities will all accept Medicaid as full payment.
Because of this, the majority of people that have to be housed because of failing health, memory, or physical issues are placed in the state-run facilities.
One of the problems is the high number of lawsuits and public outcries concerning the lack of proper care and the mistreatment of patients by the staff and workers at many of these state-run homes.
There are types of facilities available other than full-fledged nursing homes, and these can be categorized as residential care.
These facilities are specific to two classes of residents: those that are recovering from a surgery or accident and those that want to live out their lives in the company of other healthy retired individuals.
A retirement home is set up much like a hotel.
Residents can rent apartments and even have cars if they like.
The facility then caters to their every need.
These places have kitchens and cafeterias where all meals are served.
They even have hair salons on site, and generally a gym and/or pool for exercise.
There are also regularly scheduled outings off the grounds of the facility, such as shopping or sightseeing day trips.
And of course there is always a staff nurse or doctor available for the residents.
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