<p> This study seeks to determine the payer source for single, elderly women in nursing homes. By determining the payer source for single, elderly women, the next generation of women can prepare for high nursing home costs by saving earlier or investing in long-term care insurance. Studies have shown the primary payer sources for nursing home costs are Medicare and Medicaid. This study hypothesized single women, when compared to married women, would utilize Medicaid and welfare to pay for nursing home costs. Secondary data from the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey was extracted and analyzed for the aforementioned hypotheses. The analysis determined the primary payer sources for elderly women in nursing homes were self-pay and Medicaid. Marital status did not have an impact on the payer sources for single, elderly women in nursing homes when compared to married women.</p>