Living In A Nursing Home: Myths and Realities

Myth: Nursing facility patients are confused.

Reality: Most people slow down physically as they age and perhaps get easily tired. Some may slow down mentally as well. In fact, many people enter a nursing facility, in part, because poor memory makes caring for themselves difficult or impossible. However, with adequate nutrition, exercise, social stimulation and properly controlled medication memory problems often can be improved. It is important to take into consideration that a nursing facility has professional caregivers that are extraordinarily capable of interacting with the elderly or persons with a disability in a variety of situations.

It is true that a large number of nursing facility residents have Alzheimer's, an irreversible disorder that causes progressive mental difficulties. In many cases, Alzheimer's patients live in distinct units where they can be among people having the same limitations and receive the specialized care they require in a secure setting.