Long Term Care Realities

Understand long term care realities, including care needs, costs, and the impact caregiving can have on individuals and families.

Long term care can affect individuals and families in many ways. Understanding potential care needs, costs, and caregiving considerations can help provide perspective when thinking about the future.

Older adults reviewing long term care options

According to the MassMutual Long Term Care in America Study,

66%

of those surveyed are concerned about not being able to afford long term care expenses.1

Life expectancy

Life Expectancy

19602 69.7 years
20223 77.5 years

Life expectancy for men and women has increased over time.

Older adults representing long term care needs

Increasing LTC Need

80%

of those turning age 65 will need long term care in the future.4

Can you afford these ANNUAL out-of-pocket costs?5

Assisted living and nursing home, both semi private and private, are national median costs.

Assisted living facility

Assisted Living

Private Room

$64,200
Semi-private nursing home room

Nursing Home

Semi-Private Room

$104,025
Private nursing home room

Nursing Home

Private Room

$116,800
Woman supporting an older adult with long term care needs at home
Long term care event duration

Length of an LTC Event

2.3 years Men
3.2 years Women

Average length of a long term care event.6

67%
Group of people representing caregiver impact

Caregiver Impact

of family caregivers report difficulty balancing career and caregiving responsibilities.7

Planning for Long Term Care

Long term care needs and costs can vary considerably depending on individual circumstances, location, and the type of care required. Contact a financial professional and start planning today.


Cited Sources

1The MassMutual Long Term Care in America Study, conducted by Greenwald Research in 2022.

2Center for Disease Control, United States Life Tables, Volume 72, Number 12, Table 19, 2021. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr72/nvsr72-12.pdf

3Center for Disease Control, Vital Statistics Rapid Release 31, Table 1-21, 2022. www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr031.pdf

4Center for Retirement Research at Boston College: Anqi Chen, Alicia H. Munnell and Gal Wettsetin. 2025 “Do Older Adults Understand Healthcare Risks, and Do Advisors Help?” Issue Brief 25-2.

5Genworth 2023 Cost of Care Survey, conducted by CareScout®, December 2023.

6American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, 2024, www.aaltci.org

7AARP Press Room; Long Term Care Press Releases; May 16, 2024 press.aarp.org