Introduction
New Yorker Pat Somerville cares for her 80-year-old mother, Lena, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Over the past 20 years, elder care gradually has shifted from nursing homes to home-based care and assisted-living centers. (United Hospital Fund, New York)
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Nearly 70 percent of those turning 65 this year will need long-term care (LTC) in their lifetimes; 20 percent will need it for five years or longer. But — unlike most other industrialized nations — the United States has no public or private insurance infrastructure to pay for LTC. Those needing years of care will have to impoverish themselves before Medicaid will pay for it. But state officials say Medicaid — intended as a health-care safety net for poor children — could be bankrupted by rising LTC costs as the baby-boom generation ages, and the number of people over age 85 soars from around 5 million to 21 million by 2050. Meanwhile, understaffing, low pay and poor working conditions at nursing homes put residents at risk of life-threatening malnutrition and bed sores. As an alternative, states and nonprofits are offering more home- and community-delivered care, but LTC experts say the alternatives may not be any safer.
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Older Americans and Senior Citizens |
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Jun. 07, 2019 |
The Retirement Crunch |
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Sep. 30, 2011 |
Prolonging Life |
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Mar. 15, 2011 |
The Graying Planet |
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Oct. 13, 2006 |
Caring for the Elderly |
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Feb. 20, 1998 |
Caring For the Elderly |
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Aug. 01, 1997 |
Age Discrimination |
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Dec. 06, 1991 |
Retiree Health Benefits |
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Aug. 19, 1988 |
The Elderly in an Aging America |
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Nov. 21, 1986 |
Home Health Care |
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Aug. 06, 1982 |
Housing Options for the Elderly |
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Nov. 10, 1971 |
Plight of the Aged |
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Nov. 06, 1963 |
Nursing Homes and Medical Care |
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May 20, 1959 |
Housing for the Elderly |
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Sep. 04, 1957 |
Health of the Aged |
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Aug. 01, 1949 |
Older People |
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Mar. 29, 1938 |
The Job Problem for Older Workers |
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