Good question! The way I see it, in hospitals, you see the person for a short amount of time. Do we really see the person over an extended time in the hospital? No, we don't. But guess what? In LTC, we do.
I've worked LTC for the majority of my career; when I got my degree, it seems like the 'job to have' involved OB. Mind you, I am NOT knocking OB. We all are gonna 'grow up and get old', for the most part.
No, no-one wants to be in a nursing home, but there are many reasons why people are there: They, or their families, are unable to care for themselves, and need help. Home care may not be an option.
I wish we had more people who really CARED, lalach!