Long-term care is increasingly important as Baby Boomers age and the demand for caregiving grows while the supply of paid caregivers remains limited. Though many prefer not to consider needing help in later life, most people over 65 will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime. That raises a key question for retirement planning, housing choices, and financial preparation: how long might you need long-term care?
Below are clear, practical answers to common questions about long-term care to help you plan decisions about finances, housing, and support systems.
>> Related: Long-Term Care Staffing Shortages Have Far-Reaching Implications
What exactly is long-term care?
Understanding what long-term care includes is the first step to planning. Long-term care covers a range of services that help people with health or personal care needs over a short or extended period. These services support individuals so they can live as independently and safely as possible when they cannot perform everyday tasks on their own.
Long-term care can be provided at home by unpaid family members and friends, in residential settings such as nursing homes or assisted living communities, or in community programs like adult day services. The most commonly needed form is “personal care,” which refers to assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) — bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, eating, and basic mobility.
Support for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) is also included in long-term care. IADLs are tasks that help a person live independently, such as cooking, cleaning, transportation, laundry, and managing finances. Health and medical services delivered by home health workers, rehabilitation centers, or skilled nursing facilities also fall under long-term care.
>> Related: The Long-Term Care Ombudsmen Program: Advocating for Seniors
Who needs long-term care?
Long-term care is often required by people with chronic or degenerative conditions or disabilities, but the need can also arise suddenly after a heart attack, stroke, accident, or major surgery. Care needs may be temporary during recovery or permanent, as with advanced dementia.
More commonly, the need for assistance develops gradually as people age, become frailer, or experience worsening health. Several factors influence your likelihood of needing long-term care:
- Age: The probability of requiring long-term care tends to increase with age.
- Gender: Women are more likely than men to need long-term care, largely because women typically live longer.
- Marital status: Single or widowed people may be more likely to need paid care if they lack family members able to provide unpaid support.
- Lifestyle: Smoking, poor diet, and inactivity raise the risk of conditions that can lead to care needs.
- Health and family history: Existing chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure increase the chance of needing assistance.
What are the odds I’ll need some level of care?
Predicting who will need care and for how long is uncertain. Still, research-based estimates help frame the risk. Roughly 70 percent of people who turned 65 in 2020 are projected to require some form of long-term care during their remaining lifetime. That leaves about 30 percent who may never need it, but personal risk varies by the factors listed above.
Because the odds favor needing care, it’s wise to plan ahead. Delaying planning reduces options: many continuing care retirement communities require new residents to be independent at move-in and will not admit someone who already needs a certain level of assistance. Likewise, finding affordable, high-quality in-home paid care can be challenging without advance planning.
Being proactive — creating a care plan and building a supportive team — reduces stress and helps preserve quality of life if care is needed. Without preparation, families often struggle with rushed decisions that can cause avoidable hardship.
>> Related: Contrasting Approaches to Planning for Long-Term Care Needs
So, how long will I need long-term care?
There’s no way to know with certainty how long any individual will require long-term care, but averages give useful guidance. Among people who turned 65 in 2020, the typical woman might need care for about 3.7 years, while the typical man might need care for about 2.2 years. Those averages reflect the fact that women generally live longer and therefore, on average, require care for a longer period.
Care often starts at home, provided by unpaid family members such as a spouse or adult child. As needs grow, families may hire paid in-home caregivers or transition the person to assisted living or a skilled nursing facility.
Average figures hide wide variation. An estimated one in three people who turned 65 in 2020 may never need care, while about one in five could require long-term care for more than five years. Planning should account for both possibilities so you are prepared whether your care need is brief, extended, or never arises.
What will my care cost?
Costs for long-term care depend on the type, location, duration, and level of services required. Because the financial aspect is complex, it deserves a detailed discussion. Check back for our follow-up post that will explore long-term care costs, funding options, and strategies to protect your finances while securing the care you or a loved one may need.