Nursing Homes Are Meeting Practical Needs, But Need To Do Better On Promoting Independence And Privacy, Survey Shows

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A survey commissioned by senior-care referral platform A Place for Mom found 54% of respondents said nursing homes meet practical needs, while 34% said they meet personal needs such as privacy and independence. The findings point to a gap in how potential residents view daily life in care settings, though the survey does not measure the experiences of current nursing home residents.

A survey commissioned by senior-care referral platform A Place for Mom found that older adults were more likely to say nursing homes meet practical needs than personal ones: 54% said practical needs were met, compared with 34% who said facilities fulfilled needs such as privacy and independence. The findings put residents’ control over daily life alongside safety, care and meals as factors that may shape how people assess senior living.

The survey included 1,391 adults ages 60 to 90 and was conducted by Morning Light Strategy in August. A Place for Mom published the report on Wednesday. The available findings describe respondents’ views and preferences; they do not establish the quality of care across nursing homes or report a direct assessment of current residents’ experiences.

Privacy and control were among the leading concerns respondents associated with nursing home life. 42% cited less privacy as a major disadvantage, while 36% pointed to losing control over daily life and 35% each cited leaving their home and neighborhood and losing independence. On the benefit side, 37% identified maintenance-free living, 30% valued having help available if needs change, and 26% saw greater opportunities to socialize.

Respondents also expressed varying interest in technology for senior care. 38% wanted to learn more about camera-free technology embedded in facilities to prevent, detect or respond to falls. Interest was 34% for a smartphone-powered personalized healthy-aging program and 29% for AI companionship; 46% were slightly interested or not interested at all in AI companion technology.

Privacy and Choice Shape Care Decisions

The findings suggest that explaining the day-to-day experience of a nursing home may matter as much to prospective residents as describing services and clinical support. For families weighing care options, questions about routines, visitors, meals, activities and personal space can help clarify whether a setting matches what an older person wants, not just what assistance they may need.

The report also indicates a trust challenge. 56% said finding a trustworthy community was difficult, and 22% said they were very confident that caregivers in a community were well trained. Respondents said inspection and licensing records, transparent pricing, staff credentials, tours, and private conversations with residents or their families could help build confidence. These results are perceptions reported in the survey, not independent findings about facility performance.

A Place for Mom CEO Tatyana Zlotsky said communities should show what daily life can look like, including choices residents can make and ways to stay connected to familiar people and routines. That emphasis matters because the survey portrays many respondents as seeking support without surrendering control over how they live.

Many Respondents Are Not Planning a Move

The report found that many older adults do not expect to move into nursing home care soon. Only 7% said they might need to move within two years; 35% said they would consider a move if circumstances changed unexpectedly, and 18% were unsure when they might consider care. Ten percent said they would consider senior care only as a last resort.

Experiences shared by others also featured prominently in respondents’ views. 54% said knowing someone who lived in a facility influenced their views, and 36% said family and friends influenced their decision-making. About 45% had visited a nursing home, while 65% had an in-depth conversation about another person’s experience. Among those who had such conversations, 81% said the experience they heard about met or exceeded expectations.

Belonging was another theme in the report: 61% considered being welcomed by staff and residents a positive, while 57% said relationships with people at a similar stage of life could strengthen their sense of belonging. A Place for Mom operates a platform that includes 500,000 family reviews of senior living communities and home care agencies.

Survey Views Are Not Facility Audits

The survey reports the views of adults ages 60 to 90, not a systematic evaluation of nursing home care or a survey limited to current residents. The published material does not provide enough detail here to determine how respondents were recruited, how representative they are of older adults overall, or the margin of error. It also does not establish whether the reported concerns differ by facility type, location or level of care.

The figures on practical and personal needs reflect respondents’ answers about facilities; the report summary does not specify the precise wording or reference period for those questions. The findings therefore show a reported difference in perceptions, but do not explain its cause or establish that particular changes would improve residents’ experiences.

Families Can Ask About Daily Choices

The report recommends starting care conversations before a move becomes urgent and focusing on the kind of support an older person wants. Families can ask communities how they handle privacy, schedules, visitors, meals, routines and changing care needs, and whether residents can continue familiar activities and relationships.

Prospective residents and families can also seek information the survey respondents said would build trust: inspection and licensing records, clear pricing, staff qualifications, facility tours, and private opportunities to speak with current residents or relatives. The report does not announce a policy change or a new industry standard. Whether providers respond to these preferences, and whether those responses improve resident experience, remains to be seen.

Key Questions

What did the nursing home survey find?

54% of respondents said practical needs were met in facilities, while 34% said personal needs such as privacy and independence were fulfilled. The figures come from a survey of 1,391 adults ages 60 to 90.

What did respondents identify as drawbacks of nursing home care?

Less privacy was cited by 42% as a major disadvantage. Other frequently named concerns were giving up control over daily life (36%), leaving home and neighborhood (35%), and losing independence (35%).

How interested were respondents in senior-care technology?

38% wanted to learn more about camera-free falls technology, 34% about a smartphone-powered healthy-aging program, and 29% about AI companionship. The report said 46% were slightly interested or not interested at all in AI companion technology.

Does the survey show how well nursing homes provide care?

No. It reports survey respondents’ views and preferences; it is not described as an audit of facilities or a direct survey of current residents’ care outcomes.

What questions can families ask when considering a facility?

Families can ask how a community supports privacy, daily routines, visitors, meals, activities and changing care needs. The report also points to inspection records, transparent pricing, staff credentials, tours and conversations with residents or families as information that may help build trust.

Source: rss