While the student nurses are orienting to the subacute facility where they will do their clinical rotation, they ask their instructor why extended care facilities have proliferated in the past decade. Which of the following is the instructor's best response?

A) The aging population and advancements in medical technology have increased the need for long-term care services.
B) Extended care facilities are more cost-effective for insurance companies compared to traditional hospital care.
C) Government mandates have required the expansion of extended care facilities to meet population demands.
D) There has been a decrease in the availability of skilled nursing care in hospitals, leading to the growth of extended care facilities.