According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nursing facilities are classified as “group quarters. Even though the census counts people where they live as of April 1, the Group Quarters Advance Visit started February 1 and will go through March 19. Following up on the advance visit, census workers return to count the residents and classify the type of group quarters. Ideally, residents will be able to complete census forms themselves; however, if a resident is unable to fill out the form, a census worker or staff member may help them. Families need to be advised to leave a resident off their census form, to prevent them from being counted twice (even if they will be returning to that address later). Information about “group quarters” and the 2010 census process can be found at www.2010census.gov.

The National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Center has also pulled information on the 2010 census.