As baby boomers age and life expectancies increase, more people are moving into nursing homes. Today, about 4% of U.S. seniors live in these facilities, but that number is expected to double over the next three decades. Because nursing homes provide high-level medical care and 24-hour supervision, they’re most often inhabited by older adults (the average resident age is 81.1 years old) than assisted living and independent living communities are. Learn more about age ranges and health conditions of nursing home residents.
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According to our research team’s analysis of the latest available data:
Read further for a more detailed breakdown of nursing home residents by age range and health-related differences by age.
The average age of U.S. residents is increasing, according to the Population Reference Bureau. In 1970, the median population age was only 28. Today, it’s greater than 38. As baby boomers age and life expectancies increase, average age is projected to skyrocket, with the number of older adults increasing by 69% in the next four decades.
Today, about 4% of U.S. seniors live in nursing homes, according to the American Health Care Association. As the number of seniors rises, so will the number of nursing home residents. It’s important to note that nursing homes are not the same as assisted living communities or memory care facilities. They’re designed for patients with serious medical needs who require 24-hour supervision by certified care staff.
Surprisingly, the average age of nursing home residents has remained fairly steady over the past 40 years: In 1985, the average age of nursing home admission was 81, and in 1997, it was 82.6. The most recent datasets available also point to an average age near 81.
Most nursing home residents are older than 85. The most up-to-date statistics on nursing home residents by age group were published by the National Center for Health Statistics in 2019. According to their national study of long-term care providers:
The number of residents under 65 may seem high, but many of these individuals don’t reside in nursing homes for age-related concerns. Nursing homes that are state-run or accept Medicaid are often home to a small number of younger residents with severe physical or mental disabilities that prevent them from caring for themselves.
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Gender, race, and socioeconomic status influence statistics on nursing home resident age. Most nursing home residents are female and Caucasian, and socioeconomic status fluctuates with age.
Gender discrepancy in nursing homes is due more to life expectancy differences and marital status than other health conditions, according to research published in the journal Age & Ageing.
The number of women living in nursing homes is far greater than the number of men. As of 2018, about 27% of nursing home residents were men, while 73% were women, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. There is no significant data available regarding nonbinary nursing home residents.
About 4% of women over 65 live in nursing homes. This number has steadily declined since 2000, according to the Pew Research Center. This is likely due to a greater number of seniors choosing other care types, like assisted living and home care, as well as increased independence among younger seniors.
About 3% of men over 65 live in nursing homes. While the percentages of men and women residing in nursing homes are similar, the elderly male population is much smaller than the elderly female population. Most research suggests this is because of life expectancy differences.
The ratio of women to men in nursing homes increases with age. As residents age, gender ratios shift dramatically, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Statistics on age breakdown by gender in nursing homes aren’t up to date. The most recent available data comparing individual age groups by gender is from 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, it’s likely that updated statistics will be available after publication of widespread 2021 skilled nursing facility surveys. Per the most recent set of data available, men in nursing homes tended to be younger than women in nursing homes — again likely due to life expectancy.
Life expectancy varies greatly by race and ethnicity. This may play a part in the age of nursing home residents by racial demographic. However, cultural attitudes toward long-term care are a driving force behind these statistics.
According to the CDC Vital and Health Statistics survey published in 2019:
About 75.6% of nursing home residents are white and non-Hispanic. Life expectancy for this demographic is 77.6 years, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Key Facts on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity report.
About 14.6% of nursing home residents are Black and non-Hispanic. Life expectancy for this demographic is 71.8 years.
Less than 2% of U.S. nursing home residents are of Asian descent. Life expectancy for this demographic is the highest of any U.S. population at 78.8 years. However, less than 38% of Asian Americans would consider sending a family member to a nursing home — a far lower percentage than that in other racial demographics, according to research published in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
The Vital and Health Statistics survey doesn’t include specific statistics for Hispanic populations.
Read related article:Senior Population Statistics: A Portrait of Aging Americans
State-owned, nonprofit nursing homes are far more likely than assisted living communities to accept Medicaid, according to Statista.
Younger nursing home residents are more likely to be from low-income families. While middle-class and wealthy Americans often choose assisted living or home care services as they age, lower-income seniors often end up living in nursing homes without an interim care step.
Socioeconomic disparity evens out with age. As health conditions worsen with age, people may have to transition from assisted living communities to nursing homes. For this reason, people from all socioeconomic backgrounds end up in nursing homes toward the end of their lives.
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As people age, they tend to develop more health concerns. Since nursing homes are designed to support people who require 24/7 care, many residents have multiple health care needs, which may increase as they get older. Residents may also receive and pay for hospice care in a nursing home.
According to the CDC, top diagnoses among nursing home residents are:
Average age of U.S. citizens and nursing home residents
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