The Benefits of Nursing Homes Essay -- Health Care

In the early twentieth century, what we now call nursing homes did not exist. If elderly citizens had nowhere else to go, they were sent to live in rundown poor farms. On August 14, 1935 President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act, which provided matching grants to each state for Old Age Assistance (OAA). This in turn set in motion the opening of private homes that allowed people to live in a care facility and collect the OAA payments as well. It was not until the 1950’s when nursing homes started developing into the facilities most of us are familiar with today. It was then that nursing homes were required to follow state set standards for licensing and some even received Federal grants if they possessed a hospital like atmosphere. Throughout history, nursing homes have faced many dilemmas, laws, and legislations. However, it has been these ups and downs that have contributed to the quality of modern nursing homes. In my opinion, nursing homes are a good choice becau se they provide seniors with companionship, medical treatments, and reliable safe shelter for those who do not have a safe environment at home. Nursing homes provide companionship to elders and fun activities with people in their age group. The Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, offers a variety of services for the elderly. According to their website, the Four Seasons have a Therapeutic Recreation Department which â€Å"coordinates and plans all therapeutic activities for all Four Seasons residents† (2012). These activities revolve around an individual’s specific needs and can include activities such as book readings, music, arts and crafts, games, and even holiday dances. In February 2011, my grandmother suffered a stroke and needed to go to a te... ...aving their family members at home. In the end, it all comes down to the individual family deciding what would be best for their loved ones. Works Cited Four Seasons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (2012). Recreation. Retrieved from http://www.fourseasonsnh.com/Recreation/recreation.html Kapp, M. B. (2003). Resident safety and medical errors in nursing homes. Journal of Legal Medicine, 24(1), 51. Minority Staff of the House Committee on Government Reform (2001). Abuse of residents is a major problem in U.S. nursing homes. Washington, DC: U.S. House of Representatives. PBS (2012). The Evolution of Nursing Home Care in the United States. PBS The Online News Hour. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/nursinghomes/timeline.html Stiegel, L. A. (2011). Power of Celebrity at the Senate Special Committee on Aging Hearing. Bifocal, 32(4), 43-45.