Across the States 2018: Profiles of Long-Term Services and Supports

A new "Across the States Report" from AARP reveals that 46 of 50 U.S. states saw a decrease in the number of nursing community residents between 2011 and 2016. Approximately 1.3 million Americans lived in nursing communities on an average day, occupying about 81 percent of the 1.7 million spots available, according to the report. Some residents may be better suited to communities that provide different levels of care, AARP notes. Approximately 12 percent of residents had low care level needs in 2014. On average, nursing community residents received about four hours of care per day in 2016. The report also indicated that the 85+ population is projected to triple between 2015 and 2050. In comparison, the population younger than age 65 will increase by only 12 percent. This demographic shift will have a profound impact on family caregiving. The caregiver support ratio compares the number of people aged 45-64, which is peak caregiver age, to the number of people aged 80 and over, which is peak care need. Currently, there are about seven people aged 45-64 for every person aged 80 and over. By 2050, that ratio will drop to three to one.