Jesse Slome, long term care insurance expert
Over 1.3 million Americans reside in nursing homes according to the director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). The majority were aged 65 and older.
“While most individuals today purchase long-term care insurance as a way to remain in their own home for as long as possible, it’s still vital to understand what’s taking place in the nation’s nursing homes,” states Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. The leading long-term care insurance expert was sharing information with senior-level insurance professionals reported in the recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
According to the latest analysis of nursing home users in 2014, some 41.6 percent of nursing home residents were age 85 and older, Slome shared. Another 27.2 percent were between ages 75 and 84 and 16.1 percent were between 65 and 74. “The balance (15.1 percent) were under 65 Slome noted typically the result of accidents, illnesses or lifelong conditions,” he added. The HHS report reflected there were 15,600 nursing homes in the U.S. as of 2014.
The AALTCI director noted that 66.8 percent of nursing home residents according to the data are women. “Long-term care is a real issue facing American women both in terms of need and because they so often are the caregivers for an aged spouse or an aging parent,” Slome declared. “Every American today needs to have some long-term care plan in place with or without long-term care insurance.”
“Long-term care insurance not only benefits families because it gives added options and, of course, funds to pay for needed care, it also benefits taxpayers. Slome acknowledged that Medicaid paid nearly one-third (62.9 percent) of nursing home costs.
Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias was the leading cause for a nursing home stay. Over half (50.4 percent) of residents had that diagnosis according to Slome. Depression and diabetes were two other leading diagnosis.
Consumers seeking long term care insurance cost comparisons and information from knowledgeable long-term care insurance agents can contact the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance at 818-597-3227 or visit the organization’s website at www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance.
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