A Guide to Nursing Homes

What Is Long-Term Care?
Long-term care refers to a comprehensive range of medical, personal, and social services coordinated to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of people who are chronically ill or disabled. A nursing home facility may be the best choice for people...

A nursing home is a place for people who don't need to be in a hospital but can't be cared for at home. Most nursing homes have nursing aides and skilled nurses on hand 24 hours a day.
Some nursing homes are set up like a hospital. The staff provides medical care, as well as physical, speech and occupational therapy. There might be a nurses' station on each floor. Other nursing homes try to be more like home. They try to have a neighborhood...

The best ways to make sure your loved one gets the care that was promised.
Finally, after ticking off the last item on a lengthy list of must-haves, you think you've found the best nursing home for your mom. The staff seems caring and professional. It's comfortable, homey, and Mom is OK with it. She might even come to like...

Health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of medical care determined each home’s star ratings.
An estimated 3.3 million Americans will live in the nation's nearly 16,000 nursing homes during 2013. That number translates to 1 in 7 people ages 65 and up, and more than 1 in 5 of those 85 and older. They and their families will want and need a way...