Nursing home residents will be included after all in a government coupon program aimed at easing the national transition to digital television. Residents will join others who previously were declared eligible to receive up to two $40 coupons to buy analog-TV converter boxes, the U.S. Commerce Department announced Tuesday.

In exactly five months, U.S. TV stations must stop transmitting older, analog signals. That means anyone who uses a standard antenna to receive a television signal will need a converter box. Until Tuesday’s announcement, nursing home residents-who are considered more likely to use “free” TV with antenna  than many others-and post-office box users weren’t included in the coupon program.

Nursing home, assisted living and other long-term care residents will be eligible to apply for a single converter box coupon 30 days after the rule change appears in the Federal Register. A facility representative or family member may file for the coupon on a resident’s behalf, officials said.