The Role of Nursing Homes in the United States (Essay Sample)

The Role of Nursing Homes in The United States Student’s Name Institution Instructor Course Due Date The Role of Nursing Homes in The United States After aging, there comes a point where a senior may need more support than that of family and friends. Some seniors might require full-time assistance and therefore their families seek long-term care services such as nursing homes to continue providing the support they need. Nursing homes offer a wide range of health care as well as personal care services. Seniors in nursing homes are usually provided with 24-hour supervision, assistance with everyday activities, and nursing care. Most nursing home residents are there permanently either because they require constant care or because they have an ongoing condition. The role played by nursing homes in the United States since their introduction and integration into the healthcare facility are numerous and beneficial to the societies. However, there are contrary opinions owing to a few challenges developing from their operations. Therefore, nursing homes have various benefits that overcome their selected shortcomings and effectively make them a key part of the medical institutions and society in the United States. Benefits of Nursing Homes Eliminates Some of the Pressure on Family Members The ever-increasing population of the elderly in the US necessitates the need to facilitate additional care through nursing homes. In 2018 the US population ages sixty-five and older numbered 52.4 million, with older adults representing 15.6 percent of the population (Fulmer et al., 2020). Nursing homes help to relieve strain of taking care of this growing population from family members. First, a senior placed in a home will help the family tremendously as this will eliminate some of the pressure on family members who may not have the time or basics to care for their loved one. This ensures that family members are relieved of the stress of remaining at home and looking after their loved ones. The various daily services provided to patients include dressing, bathing, and eating. This is facilitated by different members of staff who are assigned to specific people who better understand their needs and can address them effectively (Wood, 2013). Through these services, the nursing homes ease the burden that the family members would have had on taking care of the aged. Creates a Sense of Community for The Residents Nursing homes also help to improve social engagement and create a sense for the community for the residents. This is important for individuals who may feel neglected. Social engagement is collectively done as a role of both the medical professionals and the patients who may consistently engage with each other to reduce loneliness. The nursing homes often arrange social and leisure activities for the seniors creating a sense of community. This helps the senior feel not as alone and gets them moving and talking. Safety is also assured in these institutions to help protect the patients. The design of the nursing homes ensures the security of the patients and also helps to simulate the feeling of being at home (Eijkelenboom et al., 2017). This, therefore, improves the mood and feelings of the patients who would have rather felt lonely. Structured Schedules Reduce Stress/Anxiety Leading to Better Health Nursing homes also have structured schedules that help to improve the social and mental well-being of the patients. Whether it is a social activity, leisure activity, or just time to eat, all of these are done through a structured schedule created by the home. These structured schedules are great for the overall health and well-being of the senior as it makes them stay on top of time (Wood, 2013). Since nursing homes are regulated, their staff members consist of professionals who are certified to offer medical services (Buljac-Samardžić & van Woerkom, 2018). Minor medical attention is provided by these professionals who may also seek further treatment in hospitals in serious and emergency cases. In addition to the daily medical attention, medical professionals in private homes also help in developing and enhancing a proper routine for their patients. This is especially important for the adults who require plenty of sleep and an increased number of social programs and activities. Drawbacks of Nursing Homes Residents Are More Likely to Suffer from Mental Health Issues Despite the major steps carried by nursing homes to ensure a feeling of being home, depression is still more likely to be observed. This can be due to patients feeling neglected by their families. Nursing homes also provide long-term services to their clients. This increased period in the nursing homes leads to a further increase in mental health issues that may lead to mental and other health complications for the patients. The prevalence of dementia and care dependency in nursing homes is constantly increasing (Rijnaard et al., 2016). Dejection is also more likely to affect the elderly population. This leads to an increased risk of the majority of the patients suffering from depression and its related mental health issues. Poor Treatment and Negligence Towards the Elderly Poor treatment and negligence are also common news in modern nursing homes. This increases the chances of depression and other mental issues. In comparison to hospitals, most of the nursing homes are not run by the government. There have been many stories of poor treatment and negligence towards the elderly, not to forget how most nursing homes are understaffed and can therefore increase the risk of accidents due to poor supervision (Wood, 2013). This is a major disadvantage to patients requiring strict care as they may experience extreme complications due to these treatments. Cost Ineffective One of the disadvantages of nursing homes is that they are cost-ineffective. This is mainly due to the sector being dominated by private services. The cost of starting and managing a good nursing home tends to be higher. This leads to the cost being rolled out to the patients (Wood, 2013). Therefore, hospitals’ nursing services are better at offering cost-effective services as compared to nursing homes. Brief Summary of Position on the Topic Nursing homes are beneficial in the medical system of the United States due to their social and personal benefits to society. Nursing homes offer parallel services to hospitals but in a limited and controlled manner. Despite being controlled, they reduce pressure in hospitals and ensure essential hospital services are still offered. Personal benefits to patients are also offered by nursing services in various forms. This includes structured schedules and the creation of a sense of community. Therefore, these benefits of nursing homes ensure that social and personal needs are addressed. Brief S...