Who Needs Long-Term Services?
More than 10 million people need long-term services, and the population that needs this care is growing.
About 5 percent of the adult population currently needs some long-term services. By 2050, the number needing long-term services is projected to increase to 27 million—more people than live in the state of Texas today.
Long-term services are not just for the elderly.
The elderly are usually the focus of discussions about long-term services. The likelihood of needing this kind of care does increase with age—about 70 percent of people reaching age 65 will need some long-term services, and 40 percent will need care in a nursing home for some period of time. In addition, the rapid growth in the population over age 85 is driving an increased demand for services. But it’s important to remember that this type of care isn’t just needed by the elderly. About half of the people needing long-term services are under 65.
People can need long-term services for many reasons.
For some people, long-term services are needed for a limited period of time to help them recover from an accident or illness. For others, an injury or accident can mean a sudden life-long need for this kind of care. Some people find they need help as they age, or as a chronic illness progresses. Others have one or more disabilities that mean they need long-term services all their lives. Some need help because of physical limitations; others need help because of cognitive limitations.
People who need long-term services have lower than average incomes.
Nearly one-quarter of the people who need long-term services and are living in the community have incomes below the federal poverty level, and nearly half have incomes under twice the poverty level. That is a considerably higher number living at or near poverty than in the general population. For people without long-term services needs, 12 percent have incomes below poverty, and 29 percent have incomes below twice the poverty level. The median individual income for people living in nursing facilities is below the poverty level.
