What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care consists of a variety of services that include medical and non-medical care to seniors who have a habitual illness or are disabled. Long-term care can help a person meet their health or personal needs.

Most long-term care is used to assist seniors with support services such as activities of daily living, like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. Long-term care can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes.

It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age or you may never need long-term care. This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care. By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care.

Most seniors will be cared for at home by family and friends. Family and friends are usually the sole caregivers for 70 percent of the elderly. A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states that people who reach age 65 will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent of the people who enter a nursing home will stay there five years or more.

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