Who Needs Long-Term Care?
The need for long-term care can arise at any age. Statistics show that nearly three out of four Americans who reach age 65 will need some form of long-term care during their life. With the average life expectancy at 80 years old and rising, it is predicted that by the year 2040, the number of people over age 85 will have more than tripled from 4 million to 14 million people.
The longer we live, the greater the chance we will need long-term care. However, long-term care is not just an issue that affects senior citizens. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, nearly 40 percent of people receiving long-term care are adults between the ages of 18 and 64 – and nearly one quarter of the 795,000 stroke victims each year in the United States are under age 65. This is a reminder that accidents and illness can strike people of all ages.
