Eldercare Facts & Figures

| Sunday, February 23, 2014
By Kristana Jenson


Eldercare has many faces, from communities set up for independent living to assisted living homes, board and care facilities and skilled nursing facilities. While the options vary based on what type of facility you want, need and can afford, eldercare facilities and senior communities continue to open across the county, especially as the Baby Boomer generation heads into their 70s. Here are some interesting facts about eldercare in the United States.

About 13% of the population of the United States is older than 65, and that number will continue to climb. Health care costs for seniors are high and continue to rise. Twenty years ago, the average cost of health care for seniors was about $9,000 per year. Today it averages out at around $15,000.

If you need some daily help with personal tasks and don't really want to deal with housekeeping or preparing meals, an assisted living home can be a great option. There are lots of activities and services, and the apartments are typically very modern and nice. This all comes with a big price tag, though, averaging out at more than $35,000 per year. In addition, these expenses include no medical care and are not covered by Medicaid.

Many of us have a fairly negative image of nursing homes in our mind, and more than 1.3 Americans live in these skilled nursing facilities. For some, it is a matter of needing constant medical care at a level beyond which can be accommodated at home. For others, it is simply the most budget-friendly housing option. The majority of residents in nursing homes use Medicaid to pay for most of their living expenses, which can easily top $80,000 each year. While it might seem a depressing housing option, many nursing homes these days are doing their best to provide homey dcor, interesting meals and plenty of activities for their residents.

Obviously, many seniors would rather stay in their own home, and the industry of in-home care has boomed in the last few decades. These caregivers provide varying levels of support, and there are more than 1.3 million people in the U.S. who take on the job on in-home care. This might seem like a large number, but the reality is that about 20% of American adults are caring for a senior parent and this can be quite difficult to manage. After all, these adult children also often have their own jobs and children, and caring for an elderly parent can be very stressful. A home caregiver can be a great way to make life easier for everyone, but it also can be difficult to find a good caregiver, and the turnaround rate is quite high. The average salary of a person who provides non-medical in-home care is around $20,000.

Finding an eldercare option can be a daunting task, but there are companies out there that specialize in matching seniors to an assisted living community, skilled nursing facility or other type of eldercare option that suits their unique needs. They will take into consideration your care needs, medical needs and budget and create a list of places that match this criteria. From there, you can visit these facilities and choose the one at which you will be the most comfortable.




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