What Are the Cons of a Nursing Home?

Taking care of an elderly family member can be a stressful, daunting challenge. Adults with full-time jobs, young children and other responsibilities are often overextended in trying to give the proper care and attention to older parents or grandparents. The challenge of meeting the needs of an elderly loved one can increase dramatically if he is suffering from a degenerative disease like Alzheimer's or is physically incapacitated. However, a nursing home isn't always the best solution.

History

• Nursing homes--or assisted living facilities--for the elderly are fairly new in American society. According to PBS's Online NewsHour, elderly citizens whose families were unable to care for them were sent to "almshouses" or "poor farms," stigmatized institutions that were often run-down, financially unstable and inconsistent in quality of care. It wasn't until the 1970s that the federal government began passing reforms to standardize the operating processes of assisted care facilities.

Function

• Nursing homes serve as a safety net for families who, for financial or other reasons, are unable to care for their elders. As their names suggest, they must have at least one certified nurse on staff at all times in case of emergencies and to assist with the day-to-day needs of residents. Most facilities also include medical equipment too expensive or complicated to be operated by family members at home.

Costs

• The cost of sending a parent or grandparent to a nursing home can be prohibitive. According to a 2004 MetLife Market study, the daily average cost was $192, or more than $70,000 a year. The cost of a shared room was only slightly less, at $169 a day. Although Medicaid or Medicare might pay for a portion of these costs, anticipate paying some amount of that sum from your own pocket.

Quality

• Despite inspections and regulations, some nursing homes suffer from a lack of quality due to inconsistent funding or over-worked staff. The cleanliness of facilities might be subpar, food preparation might need to be held to a higher standard or residents could be left alone for long periods of time. Most staff members and nurses work hard to provide proper care on both a physical and emotional level, however, as documented in a 2002 report given before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, there have also been cases of abuse.

Considerations

• There are intangible drawbacks for those living in nursing homes. Many elderly citizens feel that they are no longer wanted or needed within their families or, on a larger scale, their communities, and so they view nursing homes as a form of abandonment. Others consider themselves a burden on their families and live with a sense of guilt for not being able to care for themselves independently. While nursing homes provide care in a way that most families can no longer afford to provide for financial or other reasons, it is best to seriously review your options and speak openly with your loved ones before making a decision.