More young people are winding up in nursing homes
An analysis of federal data shows that “about one in seven nursing home residents in the U.S. is now under the age of 65.” (M. Sedensky, Sarasota AP, 1/7). This marks over a 20 percent increase over the past eight years. This increase in younger residents is creating challenges for facilities, caregivers, and patients.
Experts attribute the increase to “medical advances that have kept alive people who've suffered traumatic injuries.” Although medical advances are certainly positive, caregivers and nursing homes are now faced with the challenges of a wider age range of patients, with “very different psychological and social issues.”
As a Chicago area medical malpractice attorney with expertise in nursing home cases, I truly hope nursing homes adapt quickly to the new patient demographic.
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