Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) which include nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and assisted living facilities, provide medical and personal care services to people who are unable to manage independently in the community. Over 5 million Americans are admitted to or reside in LTCFs each year.
Data about infections in LTCFs are limited, but it has been estimated in the medical literature that:
· 1 to 3 million serious infections occur every year in these facilities.
· Infections include urinary tract infection, diarrheal diseases, antibiotic-resistant staph infections and others.
· Infections are a major cause of hospitalization and death; as many as 380,000 people die of the infections in LTCFs every year.
If faced with admitting a family member or loved one into an LTCF, it is essential to ask the right questions first. Below