Eldercare Facts & Figures
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.
More than 13% of our population is comprised by Americans older than 65, and that percentage should continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into their golden years. Perhaps they are known as the golden years because of how much it costs to pay for all the medical expenses associated with aging. In generally, older Americans spend an average of $15,000 per year on medical expenses.
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.
About 4% of Americans that are older than 65 live in a nursing home or a similar facility. For some, it's about needing a high level of daily medical care or assistance and for others, it's a budgetary matter. It costs about $6,000 per month to live in a nursing home, but nursing home costs often are covered by Medicaid and other benefits, so those on a fixed income might find that this is their best option for housing. While about 1.5 million people in the United States live in these homes, it's generally not one's first choice for their senior years and more a matter of necessity. Some facilities do try diligently to make their facility a more comfortable and interesting place for residents.
Another option that allows a person to stay in their home and still have some level of care is hiring an in-home worker. Currently, about 40 million Americans are actually providing this service for their parent, which can be a difficult burden, particularly if you have to work and also care for a parent and raise your children all at the same time. While the industry of in-home care is booming, salaries for these workers are quite low, usually less than $22,000 per year. This creates high turnaround rates and often the caregivers are not high in quality. Still, there are about 1.3 million people taking these jobs, and hundreds of thousands more caregivers are needed.
There are many different types of eldercare to consider and most cities have many different facilities. To make the selection process easier, consider using a service like CarePlacement.com. The staff at Care Placement can create a list of suitable care options that will fit your budget as well as your own personal needs. From there, you can visit facilities or interview potential in-home caregivers and select something that truly works for you.
More than 13% of our population is comprised by Americans older than 65, and that percentage should continue to grow as the Baby Boomers head into their golden years. Perhaps they are known as the golden years because of how much it costs to pay for all the medical expenses associated with aging. In generally, older Americans spend an average of $15,000 per year on medical expenses.
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.
About 4% of Americans that are older than 65 live in a nursing home or a similar facility. For some, it's about needing a high level of daily medical care or assistance and for others, it's a budgetary matter. It costs about $6,000 per month to live in a nursing home, but nursing home costs often are covered by Medicaid and other benefits, so those on a fixed income might find that this is their best option for housing. While about 1.5 million people in the United States live in these homes, it's generally not one's first choice for their senior years and more a matter of necessity. Some facilities do try diligently to make their facility a more comfortable and interesting place for residents.
Another option that allows a person to stay in their home and still have some level of care is hiring an in-home worker. Currently, about 40 million Americans are actually providing this service for their parent, which can be a difficult burden, particularly if you have to work and also care for a parent and raise your children all at the same time. While the industry of in-home care is booming, salaries for these workers are quite low, usually less than $22,000 per year. This creates high turnaround rates and often the caregivers are not high in quality. Still, there are about 1.3 million people taking these jobs, and hundreds of thousands more caregivers are needed.
There are many different types of eldercare to consider and most cities have many different facilities. To make the selection process easier, consider using a service like CarePlacement.com. The staff at Care Placement can create a list of suitable care options that will fit your budget as well as your own personal needs. From there, you can visit facilities or interview potential in-home caregivers and select something that truly works for you.
About the Author:
Agatha Lebouef enjoys reading home health care blogs. For more information about assisted living facilities in San Marcos or for expert help searching board and care Dana Point homes for your loved ones, please check out the CarePlacement.com website today.