Caregivers

A growing number of programs to help persons with dementia and their family caregivers are being developed, tested, and implemented in the United States. To learn more about whether and how models of dementia care meet practice standards, 14 components of comprehensive dementia care were identified and site visits conducted to a small sample of programs to assess how they are implemented.

Despite the high costs for long-term services and supports (LTSS), the current financing system inadequately protects people from the financial devastation of long-term disabling conditions such as Alzheimer's disease or stroke. Private long-term care (LTC) insurance coverage is low and Medicare does not cover LTSS.

This issue brief examines concerns individuals have about becoming disabled and needing long-term services and supports (LTSS), how these concerns vary by household income and assets, what actions people are willing to take to address their LTSS needs, and how homeowners who are willing to use home equity to finance LTSS differ from those who are not willing.

Previous research demonstrates that lack of planning for the potential need for long-term services and supports (LTSS) is associated with lack of knowledge about these services. People who do not have a firm understanding of their longevity risks, probability of needing and using LTSS, and the associated costs for services may be less likely to plan for their future LTSS needs.

Abt AssociatesPrinter Friendly Version in PDF Format (32 PDF pages)

  Brenda Spillman and Timothy Waidmann

Joshua M.​ Wiener, Galina Khatutsky, Angela M. Greene, Trini Thach, and Benjamin Allaire RTI International Derek Brown Washingt​on University Jul​y 30, 2015 ASPE Policy Forum  

Briefing for ASPE Long-Term Care Financing Colloquium Melissa Favreault Washington, DC

Informal caregivers, who are caregivers not paid for their assistance, are generally family members or friends of individuals in need of long-term services and supports.

This Research Brief was authored by Joshua M. Wiener, Galina Khatutsky, Nga Thach, Angela M. Greene and Benjamin Allaire (RTI International); Derek Brown (Washington University); and Helen Lamont, William Marton and Samuel Shipley (Department of Health and Human Services).