Long Term Care
For the Unexpected
Record numbers of people are living well into their 80s, 90s... and even past the age of 100. That translates into more time to do the things you want to do, to spend time with the people you love. It also poses new challenges.
In aging, you change in some familiar ways — and some ways that might be completely unexpected. In your 60s and 70s, tasks and activities that you once performed routinely or with ease might become increasingly difficult. And, over time, you may need more and more assistance with such activities. You might also experience a sudden, acute need for such help after a debilitating illness — such as a stroke.
Everyone is potentially at risk. Statistics from 20111 show that about 70 percent of individuals over age 65 will require at least some type of long-term care services during their lifetime. As you get older, the risk increases. Women are at a higher risk than men, typically because they tend to live longer. On average, someone age 65 today will need some long-term care services for three years.2 On average, private nursing home care can cost upwards of $79,935 per year.3 You may be able to manage with at-home nursing care, but this option can also be quite expensive: such services can cost more than $60,000 per year in the U.S. for eight hours of service, 365 days a year.
By 2020, an estimated 12 million Americans will need long-term care services. Forty percent of those receiving long-term care services are adults between the ages of 18 and 64.4
1 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Clearinghouse for LTC Information, 8/16/2011.
2 Ibid.
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.