Audience: People who must make long-term care decisions for themselves, a spouse, or other family member.Adult children or spouses who want to plan for their own or a loved one's future care needs. KEY SELLING POINTS: As the U.S. population ages and more boomers reach their 70s, more people need long-term care. Medicare, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance are all explained, in plain English Long-term care options are compared, helping readers choose one that matches their needs and budget. There are 1.5 million people in nursing homes, and the average stay is more than two years.

Many more people receive care in their homes or at day care facilities. Medicaid and Medicare pay for some of this care, but most use some sort of private funding. (CDC.) Average cost of home health care has gone up 4.5% from 2018 to 2019. The national median cost of a nursing home was $8,000 per month and an assisted living facility was $4,000 per month in 2019. Medicaid can pay for much of this care. (Genworth Annual Cost of Care Survey 2019).