People searching online for senior housing options are largely unaware of the different choices available, says a recent survey from A Place For Mom. Seniors and their children looking at the different options available often do not end up in the type of housing they initially set out to find, the survey shows.
While “nursing home” and “retirement facility” are the two most common search terms among people looking for senior living, according to a recent APFM analysis, only about 21% of families who search for senior care options end up having their loved one move into a nursing home. Instead, the biggest percentage—34%—end up moving into assisted living, with another 17% entering a memory care community.
But just as it’s true that seniors and their families searching for “nursing homes” rarely end up choosing that option, less than half of users who searched for “assisted living” actually ended up in that type of community, says APFM.
Out of those searching for “assisted living,” 28% eventually chose a retirement community.
Ultimately, three in five people looking for nursing homes end up moving into active senior living communities, which APFM suggests indicates a widespread lack of knowledge as to the choices available.
Written by Alyssa Gerace
