Nursing homes morph into Independent Living Communities

Interesting article in the 3/22 Philadelphia Inquirer, Business Section, by staff writer Stacey Burling, "Getting a chance at life outside a nursing home."


With states mandating higher functioning nursing home residents be moved back into the community, nursing homes across the country are setting up independent communities. What is quite startling is the company highlighted in this article, owned/managed one of the worst nursing homes in PA. Why do I think this will be repeated across the country?

Now, according to a company spokesperson we are expected to believe that the quality of care for these folks living in an apartment with sensors and monitors on the resident and throughout the apartment, will somehow translate to a higher quality of life. Additionally, the monitors are expected to prompt the "senior housing employees" (one wonders if that employee needs any training or certification) to check on residents on a regular schedule. But not to worry, there is a community room where residents can gather and receive much needed socialization since they will not be interacting with a personal care aide or assistant.

The article goes on to state that many residents have multiple machines and equipment...Is this a disaster in the making?? I understand that low income families need alternatives for nursing home placement and that most folks would prefer being in their own apartment, however I wonder how the very folks that could not deliver good care in a confined setting, will do it remotely? We all know that Medicaid cannot continue to fund long term care in the current model but we must take care not to "throw the baby out with the bath water."