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                          NURSING HOME CARE

     Nursing home care is available for people who need 24 hour security
and supervision and significant medical care.  It is the final safety
net for older and disabled people who have no other alternative.

     Care can be obtained from one of the 104 facilities licensed by
the Dept. of Health.  There are approximately 11,000 nursing home beds
in the state of Rhode Island.  Private pay in a nursing home can range
from $45,000 to $60,000 per year.

                             WHO PAYS

     Nursing home care is the most reimbursed form of long-term care.
Approximately 75% of all beds are paid for by Medicaid.  However, a
person must spend nearly all of their personal funds in order to
become eligible for Medicaid.  It is very common for an older person to
enter a nursing home, exhaust their personal funds and then go on
Medicaid.