Our resident library homeless guy just turned 70 and finally admitted he can't live on the street any longer. He applied for SS. That plus Medicare/Medicaid allows him to live on the independent floor of a nursing home where he is safe, has a clean bed, can take a shower every day, and can do his laundry. He's happier than a hog in heaven.
My widowed aunt-in-law lives in assisted living, can no longer live in her own or anyone's home because of serious medical issues (we kept her in her home as long as we could), doesn't want to mingle with other residents but shuts herself up in her room and claims no one talks to her. Nieces and nephews take turns visiting throughout the week, yet the aunt says no one in the family ever comes to see her. (She's now being treated for depression and early-stage dementia.)
I think most families explore all the possibilities -- keeping a loved one at home as long as possible, but because of health and mobility problems, must finally resort to finding an assisted care facility or a nursing home.