Long-Term Care Expectation and Reality – Few Prepared. More Expect Family to Take on Burden of Caregiving.

The AP-NORC study shows little has changed in our preparing for long-term care.

Long-Term Care Expectation and Reality – Few Prepared. More Expect Family to Take on Burden of Caregiving. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research undertook a major study of public attitudes in 2013 related to long-term care in the United States. The report found that few Americans age 40 or older are prepared for long-term care and even fewer understand the financial costs involved. Americans 40 or older are counting on their families to provide assistance for them as they age. A second study of more than 1,400 people sought to understand who is providing and receiving care, how caregiving impacts family relationships and personal experience, how Americans 40 or older receive information on long-term care, and which policy measures they think would improve long-term care. Key Findings

  • Many Americans 40 or older rely on their families for long-term care.
  • Caregivers‰Ûª experiences with providing care are mostly positive.
  • Americans 40 or older who have personal experiences with long-term care are more likely to be concerned about planning for long-term care and less likely to think they can rely on family.
  • One-third of Americans 40 or older are deeply concerned that they won‰Ûªt plan enough for the care they might need when they get older, yet two-thirds report having done little or no planning.
  • Among Americans 40 or older who expect to be a caregiver for family or friends in the next five years, just 3 in 10 say they feel prepared to take on the job.

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