Statistics about Long term care from the U.S. Government
6 out of 10 people will need long term care
We researched the data available from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, which provides extensive long term care information for the massive federal employee system.According to federal statistics, 60% of us who reach 65 years old will need long term care at some time in our lives. That doesn't mean if you're 65 you'll likely need care tomorrow --or anytime soon. The age at which this unpleasant need arises depends on your overall health.
As your age increases, the chances you'll need long term care go up. By 85 years, chances are one-in-four (25%) that you'll live in a nursing home.
Once you're a nursing home resident, the averages say you'll be there 2.5 years. We didn't want to think about where we'll be after the nursing home!
If you are cared for at home by either professionals or a loving family, you'll survive longer than the nursing home resident, according to federal data. The average stay at home is 4.5 years.
Two more facts about getting older:
Healthwise and money-wise, it's not what we'd call a rosy picture. Please remember that we aren't trying to sell insurance or anything else, so there's no spin on these numbers to persuade you to buy something. (Yes, we do allow limited advertising on these pages.)- Chances you'll develop Alzheimer's: one in ten, if you are over 65.
One in two, if you over 85. (source: U.S. Office of
Personnel Management, June, 2004)
- Nursing home cost (average): $61,000 a year (source: Reuters, 12/13/04)
Male vs. female and long term care
If you've ever visited a nursing home, you've seen that the women patients far outnumber the men. That's because, of course, women generally outlive men. The rough statistic is that women are twice as likely as men to need long term care sometime after age 65.More in this Plain Talk I Need To Know series
(Home) Plain Talk about Long Term Care Insurance
What is Long Term Care?
Will you need long term care, and what are the chances?
How Much Does Long Term Care Cost?
What is Insurance for Long Term care?
Where Do I Buy Long Term Care Insurance?
How Much Does Long Term Care Insurance Cost?
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