The face of the typical nursing home resident is changing — and becoming less wrinkled. Today, more young people are entering nursing homes and long-term care facilities in their 30’s and 40’s. More than 15% of nursing home residents nationwide are under 65 compared with 12.3% under 65 in 2003.

The number of younger nursing home residents is expected to grow as our society continues to have inadequate facilities to care for younger people who require extensive care and rehabilitation. Young people with traumatic brain injuries, extensive orthopedic injuries and chronic disease have few alternatives to traditional nursing home care.

For more information regarding the changing demographics at nursing homes, look at this New Jersey newspaper article.

Nursing Home Injury Laws: New Jersey