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Pros And Cons Of Assisted Living

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Option number 2. A Position Paper TOPIC: Aging in Place: Is it the best alternative for the elderly. Abstract The rapid growth of the elderly population is accelerating the growth and concern of long-term care options for these elders. Because of the costly nature of nursing homes, they are no longer desirable and costly for federal and state governments, viable alternatives are being sought to meet this need. The search for lower care options has led to the development and rapid expansion of assisted living communities as older adults, family caregivers and government bureaucrats are looking for lower cost …show more content…

In 2015, the U. S. Census Bureau projected an increase in the number of elderly people to be 14.7% and to exceed 20% by 2030. With a projected U.S. population of 351 million by 2030, the number of persons aged 65 years and over is estimated to rise to over 70 million people, which is more than twice the amount in 2000 (Spitzer, Newman & Holden, 2004). As the nation experiences unprecedented growth in the older adult population, the provision of long-term care services and housing for older adults has emerged as an increasingly urgent public policy issue. One of the central views of the assisted living community is that as changes occur in the health status of older adults, residents choose supportive services that allow them to remain in their homes and thereby "age in …show more content…

Assisted living has become an option for housing and care for older adults, because as a residents' care needs increase, assisted living can be the best place for that person to stay. The National Center for Assisted Living (2001) estimates that 46 percent of residents who move to assisted living communities come from their own home. This is due to the likelihood that the older adult or a family member will recognize a decline in physical and or mental condition that requires housing with supportive services. (Wilson, 2011 p.46). From the perspective of some in the assisted living industry, aging in place provides for older adults to remain in the community for longer periods of time by having daily support services to meet their care needs and delays traditional nursing home placement or hospitalization (Frank, 2002). However, there is disagreement among proponents of the assisted living industry as to the role of ALes with regard to aging in place. The disagreement stems from opposing philosophical views of the

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