Long-Term Care Addressed at the Democratic Debate

Long-term health care was among the health care issues discussed at last night's Democratic debate, reports Politico . Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) redirected a conversation about Medicare for All and the public option, shifting the focus to "long-term care — the elephant that doesn't even fit in this room." Klobuchar then discussed her own family's struggles when caring for her father. "We have to make it easier for long-term care," she said. "It's not just for the seniors — it's also for the sandwich generation, people trying to help their parents." The issue of long-term care has not gotten much airtime in the Democrats' debates, but there is considerable evidence that it is a growing problem as the baby boomers age into retirement. A 2016 HHS report projected that 52 percent of Americans turning 65 would develop a disability that required long-term services and supports.