100+ Statistics On People In Nursing Homes
As America’s population continues to age, the need for long-term care services including nursing homes will increase. One out of every five people over the age of 65 will need long-term care for at least 5 years. Aside from long-term care facilities, women are more likely to receive care from institutions like nursing homes than men.
The increased demand for nursing homes means the cost of such services is also scheduled to increase, averaging $100,000 per year for nursing home care. This article will review key statistics relating to the cost of nursing homes, demographics for residents, the rate of deaths in nursing homes, and long-term care projections.
Key Takeaways
There are 15,300 nursing homes in the United States.
The total number of nursing homes in the U.S. have 1.6 million licensed beds.
The total number of people living in nursing homes in the U.S. is 1.3 million.
The average annual cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home facility is $94,896.
Cost of Nursing Homes in US
According to a Cost of Care Survey conducted by Genworth, the average monthly cost for services will continue to rise:
- $7,908: The average monthly cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home facility is $7,908.
- $94,896: The average annual cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home facility is $94,896.
- $9,034: The average monthly cost for a private room in a nursing home facility is $9,034.
- $108,408: The average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home facility is $108,408.
- $1,690: The average monthly cost for an adult day services center is $1,690.
- $20,280: The average annual cost for adult day service centers is $20,280.
- $4,500: The average monthly cost for an assisted living facility is $4,500.
- $54,000: The average annual cost for an assisted living facility is $54,000.
- $5,148: The average monthly cost for in-home care services is $5,148.
- $61,776: The average annual cost for in-home care services is $61,776.
Source: Genworth
There are several factors that influence the cost of nursing homes in the United States such as the type of organization and the level of care required. Moreover, those that are for profit, non-profit, or government-owned also play a role in the total cost as government-owned facilities are more likely to accept things like Medicare and Medicaid, reducing the overall cost burden.
The table below provides a percentage breakdown of ownership for different nursing home organizations:
| Type of Facility | Percentage that is for-profit | Percentage that is government owned | Percentage that is nonprofit |
| Adult Day Services Center | 45.5% | 3.7% | 50.8% |
| Home Health Agency | 83.5% | 3.1% | 13.4% |
| Hospice | 70.4% | 11.2% | 18.4% |
| Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | 35.2% | 17.9% | 46.9% |
| Long-Term Care Hospital | 68% | 8.6% | 23.3% |
| Nursing Home | 70.3% | 6.3% | 23.4% |
| Residential Care Community | 81.9% | 1.1% | 17.1% |
Source: NIH; CDC
Medicare vs. Medicaid
Different types of insurance programs can reduce the cost of nursing homes in the United States, namely Medicaid.
Medicaid is a public health insurance program for those with limited income.
In general most nursing homes will accept Medicaid but only nursing homes that are certified with Medicaid are eligible to cover up to 100% of the costs including things like:
- Medications
- Room and board
- Nursing care
- Personal hygiene supplies
- Meals
- Social Services
- Rehabilitation services
- Emergency dental care
Medicaid is run at the state level so there are individual coverage limits and requirements depending on the state. According to the National Council on Aging, if you are eligible, your insurance might cover all of the cost of a nursing home or the majority of it at Medicaid certified facilities.
- 72.1%: 72.1% of adult day services centers in the U.S. are certified by Medicaid.
- 98.6%: 98.6% of home health agencies in 2020 in the U.S. are certified by Medicaid.
- 77.9%: 77.9% of home health agencies are certified by Medicare.
- 95%: 95% of inpatient rehab facilities are certified with Medicaid.
- 100%: 100% of inpatient rehab facilities are certified with Medicare.
- 78.2%: 78.2% of long-term care hospitals are certified with Medicaid.
- 100%: 100% of long-term care hospitals are certified with Medicare.
- 95.7%: Roughly 95.7% of nursing homes in the United States are certified with Medicaid.
- 98%: Roughly 98% of nursing homes in the United States are certified with Medicare.
- 43.6%: 43.6% of residential care communities are certified with Medicaid.
Source: CDC
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for older individuals and those with specific disabilities.
According to the Medicare department, you don’t get coverage for long-term stays in nursing homes but they do cover medical supplies, hospital care, and doctor services.
Quantity Of Nursing Homes In US
Across the United States there are thousands of nursing homes offering different levels of services, some of which have agreements with Medicare or Medicaid.
- 15,300: In 2020, there were 15,300 nursing homes in the United States.
- 70.3%: Of the total nursing homes, 70.3% of them were for-profit.
- 1.6 million: As of 2020, the total number of nursing homes in the U.S. had 1.6 million licensed beds.
Source: CDC
Quantity Of People In Nursing Homes In US
Of the millions of people in nursing homes in the United States, across nearly every organizational category, women are more likely to receive services and care than men with the exception of long-term care hospitals where a higher percentage of men receive services compared to women.
2/3 of people in residential care communities are women compared to men and nearly 2/3 of people in nursing homes are women.
- 1.3 million: As of 2020, the total number of people living in nursing homes in the U.S. was 1.3 million.
- 56.7%: 56.7% of people in adult day services centers are female.
- 43.3%: 43.3% of people in adult day services centers are male.
- 59.5%: 59.5% of people using home health agencies are female.
- 40.5%: 40.5% of people using home health agencies are male.
- 58%: 58% of those in hospice are women.
- 42%: 42% of those in hospice are men.
- 52.5%: 52.5% of people in inpatient residential facilities are women.
- 47.5%: 47.5% of people in inpatient residential facilities are men.
- 46.1%: 46.1% of people in long-term care hospitals are females.
- 53.9%: 53.9% of people in long-term care hospitals are males.
- 62.2%: 62.2% of people in nursing homes are women.
- 37.8%: 37.8% of people in nursing homes are men.
- 69.5%: 69.5% of people in residential care communities are women.
- 30.5%: 30.5% of people in residential care communities are men.
Source: CDC
Ages Of People In Nursing Homes In The US
When most people picture nursing homes or similar rehabilitation centers they think of the elderly but statistics show that younger individuals also reside in nursing facilities for things like intensive care, chronic medical conditions, or rehabilitative care.
In its 2022 publication, the CDC found that 83.1% of residents in a nursing home are 65 or older leaving 16.9% under the age of 65.
The table below shows the average ages of those in nursing homes in the US:
| Age Group | Adult Day Services Centers | Home Health Agency | Hospice | Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | Long-Term Care Hospital | Nursing Home | Residential Care Community |
| Under 65 | 36.7 | 10.3 | 4.8 | 10.7 | 22.8 | 17.9 | 5.8 |
| 65-75 | 23.7 | 27.9 | 18.0 | 32.9 | 37.6 | 22.0 | 13.4 |
| 75-84 | 24.9 | 32.5 | 30.2 | 34.6 | 27.7 | 27.3 | 30.9 |
| 85+ | 14.6 | 29.3 | 47.0 | 21.7 | 11.9 | 32.8 | 49.9 |
Source: CDC
Ethnicity And Race Of People In Nursing Homes In The US
When looking at different ethnicities and races, the statistics of people in nursing homes in the U.S. indicate that the majority of people across all forms of care from adult day services centers through residential care communities are white.
- Hispanic populations use adult day services centers the most out of all available forms of care.
- American Indian or Alaska native use long-term care hospitals the most out of all other forms of care.
- Asian populations similarly use adult day services centers the most out of all other forms of care.
- Black populations rely on long-term care hospitals more than other forms of care.
- Hawaiian or Pacific Islander rely on adult day services centers more than other forms of care.
The table below provides a breakdown of the average percentages of different ethnicities and races across the types of nursing home organizations in the United States:
| Ethnicity Race | Adult Day Services Centers | Home Health Agency | Hospice | Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | Long-Term Care Hospital | Nursing Home | Residential Care Community |
| Hispanic | 21.8% | 5.6% | 6.4% | 5.5% | 10.0% | 5.0% | 2.9% |
| American Indian or Alaska native | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Asian | 18.5% | 1.7% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 1.6% | 1.9% |
| Black | 15.0% | 11.4% | 8.9% | 10.4% | 19.9% | 15.7% | 4.9% |
| Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0.7% | — | — | — | — | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Other/ Two or more races | 3.2% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| White | 40.1% | 79.2% | 81.4% | 80.2% | 65.0% | 73.6% | 88.0% |
Source: CDC
Common Diagnoses For People In Nursing Homes In The US
Many individuals who receive treatment in nursing homes and similar facilities struggle with several common diseases. For example:
- Nearly 100% of residents at inpatient rehabilitation facilities or long-term care hospitals have high blood pressure or hypertension.
- An average of 50% of people who receive treatment with home health agencies, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term care hospitals, and nursing homes struggle with depression.
- The most common condition for those in hospice and residential care communities is Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias as well as high blood pressure.
The table below provides information on the average percentage of people in nursing homes and similar facilities with common diagnoses:
| Diagnosis | Adult Day Services Centers | Home Health Agency | Hospice | Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | Long-Term Care Hospital | Nursing Home | Residential Care Community |
| Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias | 24.7% | 35.6% | 45.2% | 36.7% | 45.3% | 45.6% | 42.1% |
| Arthritis | 31.6% | 63.4% | 28.5% | 62.6% | 50.4% | 27.7% | 36.4% |
| Asthma | 8.0% | 11.0% | 2.9% | 11.1% | 11.2% | — | 6.8% |
| Chronic kidney disease | 7.0% | 58.3% | 38.5% | 66.8% | 83.8% | — | 10.0% |
| COPD | 8.5% | 30.0% | 16.8% | 31.2% | 48.9% | — | 12.2% |
| Depression | 25.3% | 42.5% | 23.7% | 50.7% | 49.9% | 49.6% | 28.6% |
| Diabetes | 29.6% | 45.3% | 25.6% | 49.4% | 64.5% | 34.5% | 16.9% |
| Heart disease | 22.1% | 54.5% | 35.1% | 60.4% | 67.1% | 45.5% | 31.1% |
| High blood pressure or hypertension | 43.2% | 89.5% | 46.8% | 94.0% | 93.4% | 73.9% | 47.9% |
| Osteoporosis | 17.6% | 15.7% | 5.8% | 16.9% | 9.0% | 10.2% | 19.0% |
Source: CDC
Number Of Nursing Homes By State
The type of organization differs dramatically based on location. For example:
- Twice as many Adult Day Services centers exist in the South and the West compared to the Midwest and the northeast.
- Nearly half of all Home Health Agencies and long-term care hospitals are in the south.
- Twice as many hospice centers are in the South and the West compared to the Midwest and northeast.
- Nearly half of residential care communities are located in the west.
The table below provides a breakdown of US census region location, by percentage, for different nursing home organizations:
| Adult Day Services Centers | Home Health Agency | Hospice | Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility | Long-Term Care Hospital | Nursing Home | Residential Care Community | |
| Percentage in the Midwest | 14.2% | 25.4% | 18.7% | 25.2% | 20.4% | 32.7% | 24.5% |
| Percentage in the Northeast | 18.4% | 9.0% | 8.3% | 14.2% | 10.9% | 16.5% | 7.8% |
| Percentage in the South | 34.2% | 42.1% | 36.9% | 42.2% | 54.0% | 35.3% | 28.0% |
| Percentage in the West | 33.2% | 23.5% | 36.1% | 18.2% | 14.7% | 15.5% | 39.7% |
Source: NIH; CDC
Long-Term Care Future Projections
According to the Long Term Care department of the ACL, the level and duration of long-term care needed is projected to increase with the aging population:
- 3.7: On average women need 3.7 years of care.
- 2.2: On average men only need 2.2 years of care.
- ⅓: 1/3 of Americans over the age of 65 will never need any form of long-term care support.
- 20%: 20% of Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care for more than 5 years.
- 70%: Someone turning 65 has a 70% chance of needing some form of long-term care service at some point.
- 69%: 69% of people use some form of long-term care for at least 3 years.
- 59%: 59% of people use one year of at home unpaid care at some point in their lives.
- 42%: 42% of people over the age of 65 use paid at home services for less than one year.
- 65%: 65% of people over the age of 65 use any type of care at home for at least 2 years.
- 35%: 35% of people will live in nursing homes for at least one year.
- 13%: 13% of people will live in assisted living facilities for less than 1 year.
- 37%: 37% of people will live in some form of long-term care facility for at least one year.
Source: ACL
COVID Nursing Home Statistics
COVID brought a serious problem to nursing homes and similar organizations. Current statistics confirm that almost as many residents of nursing homes and similar facilities have been diagnosed with confirmed cases of COVID as the staff members.
According to the NIH, Vermont had the lowest rate of COVID deaths among nursing home residents, at 8 per 100,000 while New Jersey had the highest, at 159 per 100,000.
Despite this, data shows that only 38% of nursing home residents have been fully vaccinated. Moreover, the total COVID death count must be taken with a grain of salt as this statistic only refers to cases where the autopsy directly states cause of death as COVID, not situations where individuals were diagnosed with COVID and the subsequent complications led to things like respiratory distress or heart failure.
- 38.5%: Only 38.5% of residents in nursing homes have been fully vaccinated for COVID.
- 1,956,938: To date, there have been 1,956,938 confirmed COVID cases in nursing homes in the U.S.
- 1,857,290: To date, there have been 1,857,290 staff members in nursing homes with confirmed cases of COVID.
- 171,293: To date, there have been 171,293 deaths related to COVID.
- 12%: 12% of nursing home populations died by the end of 2020 from COVID in Rhode Island, Indiana, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Connecticut.
- 21%: 21% of deaths related to COVID were among nursing home residents.
Source: CMS; NIH
Nursing Home Deaths
COVID aside, the NIH has found that the death rate for nursing home residents is 23 times higher than those of the same demographics living outside of a nursing home.
The average rate of nursing home deaths is 390 per 100,000.
Long Term Care Statistics By Nursing Home Demographics
There are several organizational characteristics which provide different services:
- Adult Day Services centers provide care and companionship for those who need daily supervision or assistance. Family members or caregivers who need to take breaks, take care of personal business, or go to work can know that these centers provide meals and Recreation as well as limited health related services and are generally covered under insurance plans.
- Inpatient Rehabilitation programs are separate from hospitals and provide long-term living accommodations as well as meals and medical services while an individual is undergoing rehabilitation for injuries or illnesses.
- Long-term care facilities offer personal care as well as medical services to those who cannot live independently.
- Home health agencies provide personal care such as help with daily living, taking medication, eating, as well as general supervision but provided within an individual’s home by a professional. professionals can also help with things like physical therapy, managing wounds, or serving as a nurse.
- Hospice care provides comprehensive care for individuals who have terminal illnesses with limited time left. Hospice Care is there to tend to an individual at the end of their life.
Source: NIH; CDC
Long-term care generally covers things like nursing homes, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice care facilities, and home health agencies.
Adult Day Services Centers
- 4,130: The US has an average of 4,130 adult day services centers.
- 294,000: Adult day services centers have 294,000 licensed beds in the U.S.
- 4,130: There are an average of 4,130 adult day center providers across the United states.
- 40.1%: 40.1% of adult day services centers are affiliated with a chain.
- 86.2%: 86.2% of adult day services centers are in a metropolitan area.
Source: CDC
Home Health Agencies
- 376: 376 people receive help from a home health agency every year.
- 11,400: In 2020, there were 11,400 home health providers.
- 86.3%: 86.3% of Home Health agencies are located in a metropolitan area.
Source: CDC
Hospice
- 349: 349 people are served annually by hospice.
- 5,200: There are 5,200 hospice centers across the United States.
- 83.5%: 83.5% of all hospice centers are located in a metropolitan area.
Source: CDC
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
- 335,000: There are an average of 335,000 licensed beds at inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States.
- 321: Inpatient rehabilitation facilities serve an annual average of 321 people.
- 1,200: There are 1,200 providers for inpatient rehabilitation facilities across the United States.
- 86.9%: 86.9% of all inpatient rehabilitation facilities are located in a metropolitan area.
Source: CDC
Long-Term Care Hospitals
- 24,100: There is an average of 24,1000 licensed beds at long term care hospitals across the United States.
- 234: Long-term care hospitals in the United States serve an annual average of 234 people.
- 350: There is an average of 350 long-term care hospital providers.
- 95.1%: 95.1% of all long-term care hospitals are in metropolitan areas.
Source: CDC
*Nursing Homes
- 1,632,900: There is an average of 1,632,900 licensed beds at nursing homes across the United States.
- 30,660: 30,660 people are served by a nursing home every year.
- 15,300: 15,300 different providers have nursing homes in the United States.
- 58%: 58% of nursing homes are affiliated with a chain.
- 72.7%: 72.7% of nursing homes are found in metropolitan areas in the United States.
Source: CDC
Residential Care Communities
- 1,197,600: The U.S. has an average of 1,197,600 licensed beds at residential care communities across the United States.
- 9,855: 9,855 people are served annually by a residential care community.
- 30,600: There are 30,600 providers of residential care communities in the United States.
- 61.4%: 61.4% of residential care communities are affiliated with a chain.
- 84.6%: 84.6% of residential care communities are located in a metropolitan area.
Source: CDC
