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Health & Well-Being » Nursing Care

Why It's Important

Nursing care is professional treatment by a skilled nurse during an illness or injury. Nurses participate in the care process from the very beginning, often providing the vast majority of the hands-on care. Their nursing expertise and experience on a health care team equip them to manage ambulatory, acute, home-based and chronic care patients.

See Data By: Richmond MSA | Virginia | National

How Richmond Is Doing

According to Genworth's Cost of Care Survey, 2009, except for home-based health care, the costs of long-term care also are poised for steady increases.

The cost of labor is a key factor driving the price of care at facilities, though that has abated somewhat because of the availability of workers as unemployment has risen and because of higher retention rates.
Nationally, the average annual cost for a private room in a nursing home is $74,208 or $208 per day, a 4.7 percent increase over the past year and 4.3 percent more annually over the past five years.
In Richmond and Roanoke, the cost for a private room has risen 8 percent a year since 2005 and 5 percent a year in the Norfolk-Virginia Beach region.
The median annual cost for a private nursing home room in Richmond is $78,658.
In Richmond, costs for a private room in an assisted-living facility rose even faster, increasing 16 percent a year over the past five years to a median annual cost of $37,752.
Nationally, the cost for a one-bedroom unit in an assisted-living facility is $33,903 annually or $2,825 monthly, marking an increase of 1.4 percent over 2008 and 4.7 percent annually over the past five years.
A bright spot in the company's survey is the relatively flat cost of in-home care. The hourly cost for in-home care for non-Medicare-certified workers rose a half-percent to $18.50 from a year ago and increased 1.7 percent annually over the past five years.
In Richmond, however, the median rate is $19, which represents an annual growth rate of 5 percent since 2005. The cost ranges from $15 to $21 in Virginia.

(GENWORTH, COST OF CARE SURVEY, 2009)

Rate of nursing home residence among people age 65 and over, by age group, selected years 1985-2004

Percent of medicare enrollees age 65 and over residing in selected residential settings, by age group, 2005

How Virginia Is Doing

According to the Virginia Department of Healthcare Professions:

By 2020 there will be a projected shortage of 1500 physicians and 22,600 registered nurses in Virginia.
Currently in Virginia there is a lack of accurate healthcare data.
The area of direct support professionals (DSP) lacks the most data where there is a projected 45 % increase in demand by 2010.

(VA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONS, 2009)

How the U.S. Is Doing

According to a report by Marla Salmon on the future roles and services of nursing for older adults: Older adults have greatest need for nursing services

Two-thirds have two or more chronic diseases
Hospitalized 3X more often & stay 50 percent longer
70 percent have cognitive impairment or at least one ADL limitation
40 percent over 85 suffer cognitive impairment
25 percent over 85 suffer severe depression

The reality: nursing care of older adults

Relies heavily on unskilled, unprepared workforce
Lacks oversight & appropriate supports
Disparities are significant
Shortage of all providers is worsening
Most promising models not widely adopted

A closer look: assistants, aides and attendants

Growing need: 1.3 million more by 2012
Poor career options
- 30 percent live in poverty
- Frequent turnover
- Difficult work conditions
- Few advancement opportunities
Lack of training, support & functional teams

A closer look: informal care