Report Compares Nursing Care Costs

The average cost of nursing home care in Hernando County is on a par with other facilities throughout Florida and the nation.

A survey, done by MetLife Mature Market Institute, examined daily rates for private and semi-private rooms in private-pay nursing homes.

Although the report doesn't break costs down by county, it does segment it out by regions: Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami and the rest of the state.

Hernando County, fitting into the latter category, had these costs for 2008: A semi-private room had an average cost of $189 per day. A private room averaged $228 per day.

The ranges swung wildly from $90 to $222 for a semi-private room to $105 to $396 for a private room.

By comparison, national average rates in 2008 were $212 per day for a private room and $191 per day for a semi-private room.

The average rates for private and semi-private rooms in Florida were $191 and $218 respectively.

According to 2007 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, 68 percent of nursing home residents were women and only 14 percent were younger than 65. The median age of a nursing home resident was 83.

The MetLife survey also found the average monthly costs for an assisted living facility in this region of the state (which includes Hernando County) was $2,812, compared to $3,031 nationally and $2,748 in all of Florida.

Kathy O'Brien, senior gerontologist with MetLife, said the report is intended to give people a benchmark in planning their loved one's care.

Because there can be so much variability in costs, especially among geographical areas, she urges people to call the individual facilities to get cost quotes and find out what services are included in those costs.

Health and Human Services Director Jean Rags urged people not to rule out alternatives to nursing home care.

"I think it's always good we compare statistics but to always keep an open mind to finding alternatives for cost savings while ensuring quality care," Rags said.

The cost study comes on the heels of a federal report issued last month that rated nursing home care in the nation and Florida.

Locally, the report showed four out of five facilities attaining high marks, with Brooksville Healthcare Center grabbing the coveted five-out-of-five stars for overall excellence.

Heartland of Brooksville, Heron Pointe Health and Rehab of Brooksville and the Spring Hill Health and Rehab Center all received four out of five stars, signifying "above average."

Only Evergreen Woods, off State Road 50 in Spring Hill, scored low on the government's rankings: one star out of five, or "much below average."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated facilities in three critical areas: state health inspection results, quality measures, and staffing levels.

To view the entire MetLife cost report and see how Hernando County stacks up to other areas of the state and nation, visit: http://www.metlife.com/FileAssets/MMI/MMIStudies2008NHALCosts.pdf