The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) recently published its biennial report covering the many facets of long-term care and independent living in America. Published biennially since 1992 by the AARP Public Policy Institute, the Across the States series was developed to help inform policy discussions among public and private sector leaders in long-term care throughout the United States.
Here are some interesting facts about my home state of Virginia as of 2005:
o 28,652 Virginians resided in nursing homes
o 45% of those residents suffered from dementia
o Staffing was such that each resident was allotted 2 hours of time for CNA care per day
o 17% of Virginia’s nursing homes had deficiencies which caused actual harm or jeopardy to the residents
o 63% of residents depended upon Medicaid to pay the nursing home bill
o Medicaid paid $113 per day for nursing home care
o Medicare paid $264 per day for nursing home care
o Private pay rate was $187 per day for nursing home care (urban areas)