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A survey commissioned by A Place for Mom found that 54% of older adults said senior living facilities met practical needs, compared with 34% who said personal needs such as privacy and independence were met. Respondents also cited trust, control over daily routines and staying connected as important considerations in choosing care.
A survey commissioned by senior-care referral platform A Place for Mom found that older adults were more likely to say senior living facilities meet practical needs than personal ones: 54% said practical needs were met, while 34% said facilities met needs such as privacy and independence. The findings point to a concern for nursing home operators and families weighing care options: respondents want support without losing control over daily life.
The survey covered 1,391 adults aged 60 to 90 and was conducted by Morning Light Strategy in August. A Place for Mom published the findings on Wednesday. The source report describes views of potential residents across senior living care; the figures should not be read as direct measurements of every nursing home or as evaluations by current residents.
Respondents identified both practical benefits and personal costs. 37% cited maintenance-free living as an advantage of nursing home care, and 30% said help being available if their needs change was a major plus. About 26% pointed to more opportunities to socialize. On the other hand, 42% cited less privacy as a major disadvantage, 36% said giving up control over daily life was a drawback, and 35% each cited leaving their home and neighborhood or losing independence.
Many respondents did not expect to move soon. 7% said they might move within two years; 35% said they would consider a move only after an unexpected change in circumstances, while 18% were unsure when they might consider nursing home care. The report also found that technology preferences varied: 38% were interested in learning about camera-free falls prevention and response technology, 34% about a smartphone-based healthy-aging program, and 29% said an AI companion might help. The report said 46% were slightly or not at all interested in AI companion technology.
Privacy and Choice Shape Care Decisions
The results suggest that families may judge a care setting by more than whether meals, safety and assistance are available. Privacy, familiar routines, relationships and independence also shape whether older adults can see themselves living there. For operators, the findings point to a need to explain how residents can make everyday choices, maintain connections and receive support as their needs change.
Trust is another practical issue for families comparing communities. 56% said finding a trustworthy community was difficult, while 22% said they were very confident that caregivers in a community were well trained. The report said respondents identified inspection and licensing records, transparent pricing, staff qualifications and opportunities to speak privately with current residents or their families as information that could help build trust.
These findings are relevant to care planning, but they do not establish that all facilities fall short or that respondents’ expectations match the experience of current residents. They do show that communicating services alone may not answer the concerns potential residents raise about how a move could affect their autonomy and social ties.
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What Respondents Value in Senior Living
The survey indicates that many older adults associate a move to nursing home care with a future need or an unexpected change rather than an imminent plan. Only 7% anticipated a move within two years, and 10% said senior care would be a last resort when they seriously considered it. The report recommends that families begin conversations early and ask what kind of support a person wants, rather than focusing only on which setting to choose.
Respondents also described belonging as part of a good care experience. 61% said being welcomed by staff and residents was a positive, and 57% said relationships with people at a similar stage of life would add to their sense of belonging. The report notes that continuing familiar activities may matter alongside access to new programs.
Firsthand accounts were one source of information. About 54% said knowing someone who had lived in a facility influenced their views, and 36% said family and friends influenced their decisions. The report said 45% had personally visited a nursing home and 65% had held an in-depth conversation about another person’s experience. Among those who had such conversations, 81% said the experience met or exceeded their expectations.
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Limits of the Survey Findings
The source report does not provide enough detail here to assess the survey’s margin of error, sampling method or how closely respondents represent the wider population of older adults. It also does not give facility-by-facility results or measure current residents’ experiences. The 54% and 34% figures describe survey responses; they do not establish an independently verified performance rating for nursing homes.
It is also unclear from the supplied report how respondents interpreted “practical” and “personal” needs, or whether answers differed by care setting, health status or prior experience. The findings on technology record interest levels, not adoption or evidence that a particular product improves care.
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Questions Families Can Ask
The report encourages families to start discussions before a move becomes urgent and to ask prospective communities about privacy, daily schedules, meals, visitors, activities and changing care needs. Families can also ask how residents maintain familiar routines and relationships, and whether they can speak privately with current residents or relatives.
For operators, the report points to clear communication about daily life and access to verifiable information, including inspection records, licensing, staff qualifications and pricing. The survey does not announce a policy change or a formal response from regulators. Whether providers act on the findings, and how those changes might affect residents’ experiences, remains to be seen.
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Key Questions
What did the survey find about nursing home care?
54% of respondents said facilities met practical needs, while 34% said personal needs such as privacy and independence were met. The figures reflect survey responses, not an audit of facilities.
Who took part in the survey?
The survey included 1,391 adults aged 60 to 90. Morning Light Strategy conducted it in August for A Place for Mom.
What did older adults identify as drawbacks?
42% cited less privacy, and 36% cited losing control over daily life. Another 35% each named leaving home and the surrounding neighborhood, or losing independence.
What information could help families evaluate a community?
The report points to inspection and licensing records, transparent pricing, staff credentials, community tours and private conversations with current residents or their families.
Does the survey show that nursing homes are failing residents?
No. It reports what potential residents said about senior living needs and perceptions. It does not provide facility-level evaluations or establish the quality of care at individual nursing homes.
Source: rss
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