The last 5 years of relevant data indicates a relatively stable current state of long-term healthcare in the U.S. However, because of demographic changes predicted for the future, the associated data will become increasingly dynamic.
In the coming future, a majority of people over the age of 65 will need long-term care services for an average of three years. 20 percent of people aged 65 and older will need five years of service.
The future as it looms will require local, state, and federal policy makers to determine the best ways to increase both the capacity of nursing homes, as well as how to fund the increasing consumer base.
There is a growing shift away from institutional nursing homes towards home-care. Both the federal government and states are developing and implementing ways in which to encourage and embolden this trend, because home- and community-care lessen the financial burden on taxpayers and the government.
Nonetheless, states and the federal government will remain to be the primary financers of long-term care. This is primarily due to the absence (or lack of financial feasibility) of long-term care in private insurance providers.
Consequentially, policy innovation will become increasingly important as time goes on. As a result, policy makers will continue to extensively rely on the availability of reliable and standardized data on nursing homes.
Check out the first four segments of our 6-part series:
- Kaiser Foundation Overview of Nursing Facilities: Introduction (Part 1 of 6)
- Kaiser Foundation Overview of Nursing Facilities: How and Why Data is Collected for Nursing Homes (Part 2 of 6)
- Kaiser Foundation Overview of Nursing Facilities: The Current Capacity of Nursing Homes (part 3 of 6)
- Kaiser Foundation Overview of Nursing Facilities: Who Owns Nursing Homes and How Nursing Homes are Financed (Part 4 of 6)
- Kaiser Foundation Overview of Nursing Facilities: Minnesota Nursing Homes Compared to National Average (Part 6 of 6)
The Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm represents clients in cases involving catastrophic injury caused by nursing homes that fail to provide proper care. If you believe that you or your loved one has suffered serious harm because the nursing home failed to do its job, take action and contact the Kosieradzki • Smith Law Firm online or call us toll-free at (877) 552-2873 to set up a no-cost, no-obligation consultation.
