The average annual cost of nursing home care in the US now stands at $57,000 &endash; 7% higher than in December 2001. The survey of more than 2,000 nursing homes in all 50 states evaluated the cost of housing and caring for someone with a debilitating disease such as Parkinson’s disease. Results showed that the cost of one day’s care can vary enormously &endash; from $69 at a nursing home in Oklahoma to a staggering $720 in one home in Alaska. For those looking for cheaper annual care Louisiana came out on top by averaging just $35,900. Meanwhile, the most expensive state was Alaska, where the average cost of annual nursing home care was a colossal $166,700. None of the totals included costs for therapy, treatment, rehabilitation, or drugs.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Reported by www.reutershealth.com on the 4th August 2003.
