Who receives long-term care LTC in the United States?
Asked by: Prof. Athena Labadie | Last update: October 8, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (35 votes)
Who receives long-term care in the United States?
Many Americans will need long-term care (LTC) at some point in their lives. Older adults, sick and disabled adults, as well as children with special needs—including those who are chronically or terminally ill—may all require long-term care services.
Who do the majority of long-term care recipients receive care from?
From whom do the majority of long-term care recipients receive care? The majority of people receiving long-term care receive it from family caregivers. Because premiums for long-term care insurance can be very costly, many consumers seek other methods of acquiring funding for future LTC needs.
What types of patients utilize long-term care?
Approximately 79 percent of long-term care residents in California are age 65 or older. On average, nursing facility residents require some level of assistance with three or more of the activities of daily living, which include bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting and eating.
Who gets long-term care?
Long-term care (also called “custodial care” or “long-term services and support”) includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. This may include: Personal care assistance (like help with everyday activities, including dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom)
Fixing America's Long-Term Care System
Who is a good candidate for long-term care?
In order to maximize insurability and any potential health rate discounts, we recommend a target age range between 45 and 65.
Who is more likely to need long-term care?
Someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and supports in their remaining years. Women need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.2 years) One-third of today's 65 year-olds may never need long-term care support, but 20 percent will need it for longer than 5 years.
What is the biggest drawback of long-term care insurance?
One of the biggest drawbacks of getting long-term care insurance is the risk of losing all the premiums you have paid over the years. If you end up not needing long-term care services, you won't be eligible for coverage. This means the money you've spent for coverage goes down the drain.
At what age do most people need long-term care?
Adults aged 65 and older face the most significant risk for long-term care due to chronic conditions—which can be cognitive, physical or both.
What are the most common reasons for patients/clients to enter a long-term care facility?
The need for long-term care can arise suddenly, such as after a heart attack or stroke. More often, however, the need for long-term care develops gradually. People require more care as they get older and frailer or as a serious, ongoing illness or health condition gets worse.
What are the demographics of long-term care?
Resident demographics by age
The majority of long-term care residents are over the age of 85. According to the CDC, ages breakdown as follows: 7% of residential care community residents are younger than 65. 38% of residents are 65 to 84 years old.
Who is the largest payer for long-term care?
Medicaid is the primary payer across the nation for long-term care services.
Who pays the most for long-term care?
While Medicaid will pay up to 100% of the cost (indefinitely as long as there is a need), a nursing home resident must contribute nearly all of their income towards nursing home care as a Patient Liability. Note: Medicaid coverage is only provided for persons with limited financial means.
What kind of care do the majority of long-term care recipients receive?
- The most common type of long-term care is personal care, which is assistance by another individual with everyday activities, such as eating, bathing, and dressing. Personal care is provided by unlicensed individuals such as family members, friends, and home health aides.
What is the least expensive type of long-term care?
- Home healthcare: This includes home health aides and any other long-term care support you receive at home.
- Assisted living communities: This type of long-term care provides housing with round-the-clock staff to help with basic daily living activities.
What is the average length of stay in assisted living before death?
Estimates of the average length of stay in an ALR range from approximately 2.5 to 3 years. because they need to move to a nursing home for more care or because of death.
Will 70% of Americans need long-term care?
Americans are living longer these days—and the longer we live, the more likely it is we'll need some extra help. Whether it's due to a disability, a chronic illness, or other challenges, a person turning 65 today has a nearly 70% chance of needing long-term care in the years they have left.
At what age is it too late to get long-term care insurance?
While there is no set age in which you can no longer purchase long-term care insurance, the oldest age at which most insurance companies will issue a new long-term care insurance policy typically falls within the range of 75 to 80 years old.
When should an elderly person go into a care home?
A care home may be the best option if you or someone you know: is struggling to live alone – even with help from friends, family or paid carers. had a needs assessment that suggested a care home is the best choice. has a complex medical condition that needs specialist attention during the day and night.
What percentage of people actually use their long-term care insurance?
If you purchase that type of coverage, your lifetime chance of using policy benefits will fall somewhere between 35% and 50% -- because most people buy this coverage and use it to get care in their own home.
Why would someone be denied long-term care insurance?
When it comes to getting long-term care insurance, your current health matters. In fact, one of the biggest reasons people are denied long-term care insurance is because they have a pre-existing medical condition or disability that makes it more likely they'll require care sooner.
Do you pay LTC premiums forever?
Buying LTC insurance is part of a planning process for life and retirement. You need enough income to pay the premiums for the rest of your life regardless of premium increases or life changes, such as the death of your spouse.
Who is the best candidate for long-term care?
The best candidates for long-term care insurance are people whose financial well-being would be jeopardized by long-term care expenses. People at the low end of the economic scale have no assets to protect, and people at the high end can pay their own long-term care expenses without endangering their financial health.
What is the average age of LTC claims?
LTCi claims payments
The most common age for LTCi claims to begin is between 86 and 90 (27.2 percent), followed by age 81 to 85 (25 percent). Only 17.5 percent of claims are paid to insured who are 91 or older.