America is aging, and with it comes a profound shift in how we think about long-term care. As life expectancy continues to rise, so does the desire for older adults to remain in their own homes.
Why Home Care is on the Rise
According to AARP, ~75% of adults aged 50 and older want to age in place, preferring the familiarity of their own surroundings over the sterile halls of nursing homes. Yet, as this preference grows, the capacity for institutional care shrinks. More than 62,000 nursing home beds and 770 facilities have been lost since 2020, and access in rural areas has become increasingly scarce, creating what are now termed “nursing home deserts.” This crisis in capacity is driving an urgent need for alternatives that are both compassionate and scalable.
The decline in nursing home capacity is not just about physical infrastructure, but a reflection of a larger trend in healthcare preferences. Since 2009, most states have expanded their home care workforces while downsizing the number of nursing home staff. Forty counties across the U.S. have become nursing home deserts since 2020, leaving aging populations with fewer options for institutional care. This gap is particularly dire in rural communities, where travel distances and limited facilities compound the barriers to access.
The American Health Care Association highlighted that many nursing homes are limiting admissions due to staff shortages and financial pressures, pushing more families to seek alternatives. For those with chronic conditions or disabilities, home-based care acts as a lifeline, delivering medical and personal care in a familiar environment while maintaining dignity and independence.
Chronic Conditions and the Care Gap
The need for home care is further magnified by the prevalence of impairment among older adults. More than half of people upon turning age 65, will require need help with at least two activities of daily living (ADL), such as toileting, bathing, or dressing, for a period.
With the average cost of long-term care topping $120,000 per person, families often find themselves stretched thin. Meanwhile, unpaid caregiving racks up almost $150 billion in lost wages each year, posing as a silent burden for loved ones. For many, home care represents a more affordable, flexible alternative that keeps seniors where they want to be – in their own homes. Yet, with only 3% of long-term care costs covered by private insurance, families are often left searching for solutions.
PurposeCare is stepping into that gap, offering innovative models that make high-quality home-based care accessible without the crushing financial weight of institutional settings.
The Benefits of Aging in Place
Aging in place is not only more affordable; it’s also better for mental and physical health.
Being at home means older adults are surrounded by familiar settings, personal belongings, and loved ones. For individuals with cognitive impairments such as dementia, this continuity is a necessity. Studies show that familiar environments reduce confusion, anxiety, and agitation, supporting better overall well-being.
Home care and home health also reduce the risk of illness exposure, a lesson underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, where nursing homes became epicenters for outbreaks. In contrast, in-home care and home health allows for tailored infection control measures, significantly lowering risk. PurposeCare’s approach, supported by data-driven platforms, ensures that patients receive personalized and flexible care that adapts to their changing needs.
Such home-based support has been shown to significantly reduce both mortality and admissions to long-term care facilities. For frail adults, the odds of avoiding institutional care increase by up to 45% when supported by consistent home visiting programs.
Home Health as a Hospital Avoidance Strategy
Regular home visits can identify emerging health issues before they become emergencies. Studies show that integrated home care and home health models reduce unnecessary hospitalizations by 64% and cut emergency room visits by more than half. This proactive model not only saves on medical costs but also spares patients the emotional and physical toll of hospital stays.
Through real-time monitoring and early intervention, caregivers can detect signs of urinary tract infections, falls, or worsening chronic conditions, which are common triggers for emergency care. Addressing these problems early helps patients remain safely at home, preventing the cascade of medical interventions that often follow an avoidable hospitalization.
The Technology That Powers Home-Based Care
At the heart of PurposeCare’s success is its use of innovative technology to power care delivery. Through data integration and real-time monitoring, PurposeCare’s Canarai platform identifies changes in patient conditions, triggers early interventions, and supports care transitions, thus making home-based care as efficient and dependable as hospital-level oversight.
Data-driven insights enable caregivers to monitor patient progress, flag potential risks, and adjust care plans accordingly, to help optimize care coordination and ensure that each patient receives the right care, at the right time, in the right place.
A Smarter Future for Aging
As America ages, the demand for compassionate, cost-effective care will only grow. Home care and home health services are poised to meet that demand, offering older adults the chance to age in place with dignity and support. PurposeCare is leading this charge, delivering innovative solutions that redefine what it means to age at home – safely, independently, and affordably.
The future of aging in America is not in institutional walls, but in living rooms, kitchens, and backyards, where life happens, and where PurposeCare is making it possible.