Alzheimer's Disease & Related Dementias

Despite the high costs for long-term services and supports (LTSS), the current financing system inadequately protects people from the financial devastation of long-term disabling conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke. Private long-term care (LTC) insurance coverage is low and Medicare does not cover LTSS.

Previous research demonstrates that lack of planning for the potential need for long-term services and supports (LTSS) is associated with lack of knowledge about these services. People who do not have a firm understanding of their longevity risks, probability of needing and using LTSS, and the associated costs for services may be less likely to plan for their future LTSS needs.

Long-term services and supports (LTSS) are expensive. The average private pay cost of a private room nursing home stay in 2014 was about $88,000 a year. Although this cost is insurable through private long-term care (LTC) insurance, coverage is low.

A growing number of programs to help persons with dementia and their family caregivers are being developed, tested, and implemented in the United States. To learn more about whether and how models of dementia care meet practice standards, 14 components of comprehensive dementia care were identified and site visits conducted to a small sample of programs to assess how they are implemented.

Briefing for ASPE Long-Term Care Financing Colloquium Melissa Favreault Washington, DC

Informal caregivers, who are caregivers not paid for their assistance, are generally family members or friends of individuals in need of long-term services and supports.

This Research Brief, authored by Allison Carbonaro and Helen Lamont.

Disclaimer and AcknowledgmentsThis project was funded by the Administration for Community Living under contract no. HHSP23320095651WC. The statements contained in this report are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Administration for Community Living.

This revised Research Brief, authored by Melissa Favreault (Urban Institute) and Judith Dey (Department of Health and Human Services), presents information about the risk of needing care and associated costs to provide content for policymakers and others considering long-term care financing proposals.