Due to advances in medical technology and an improved standard of living, the United States life expectancy rate is now 78.9 years. With more Americans living to an advanced age, the need for services for the elderly has increased. Among the many needs senior citizens require, a safe place to live is at the top of the list. Some Las Vegas seniors will be able to stay in their homes for the majority of their lives, with family and friends helping out as needed. For others, an independent living community, or an assisted living facility will be the right fit. For seniors that require daily medical care and assistance, a skilled nursing facility, commonly called a nursing home, may be more appropriate.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates nearly two million people aged 65 and older are residents of a nursing home, with the need for nursing homes increasing as the population ages. Providing nursing home care for seniors has become a big for-profit business, attracting large corporations that answer to shareholders about the bottom line. Concerns about the profit margin can sometimes become more important than the needs of the nursing home residents, increasing the odds of nursing home abuse and neglect.