Virginia nursing homes: not just for the elderly anymore

Why is the average age of nursing home residents in Virginia going down?  It isn’t because elderly Virginians need care sooner.  It is ironically due to improvements in medical technology that are saving seriously injured people who in years past would have died from their injuries.

 

Take car crash victims.  Serious auto accidents can lead to devastating injuries like spinal cord damage or brain injury.  These days doctors know more about these types of injuries and are able to save patients with severe brain injuries, spinal cord damage or severe internal injuries.  In addition, much progress has also been made in managing many serious chronic illnesses, so people are living longer than they used to.

 

However, many of these patients go on to need around-the-clock care – the very type of care that is available in Virginia nursing homes.  Families are finding that nursing homes are an affordable alternative to home care, especially if nobody is able to quit their job and care for the patient full-time.  Some patients need to stay in nursing homes long-term, others for shorter stays.

 

Some communities in Virginia have long-term care programs or assisted living options available for those who need constant care, but budget cuts and economic challenges have meant that nursing homes are a last resort for many.