Next Avenue: Putting the Home Back in Nursing Home
Next Avenue has published an article authored by Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, president of The John A. Hartford Foundation, "Putting the Home Back in Nursing Home."
The pandemic has triggered a national conversation about where and how people want to live as they age and need increasing assistance. It is time to redesign the current nursing home model, which has been in place in America for roughly 70 years. In this article, Dr. Fulmer discusses both why nursing homes need to be reimagined as well as the current work going on to improve them.
Dr. Fulmer begins the article by referencing a recent poll commissioned by JAHF, "We learned that 57% of older adults say COVID-19 has affected their willingness to live in a nursing home and nearly everyone (89%) says changes are needed to make nursing homes acceptable and inviting to them."
Dr. Fulmer then explores current public and private sector initiatives aimed at improving nursing home care. These initiatives include, The American Rescue Plan, the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, an updated ‘Teaching Nursing Home’ model, the repurposing of hospital rehabilitation wings, alternatives to traditional nursing homes, and nursing homes that appropriately serve diverse communities.
The article is part of a Next Avenue special report series on The Future of Elder Care, supported by JAHF.
To read the article, click here.
To go to the Next Avenue special report on the Future of Elder Care, click here.
