Long-Term Services & Supports for the Elderly

Long-term services and supports (LTSS) refer to a broad range of health and health-related services and supports that are needed by individuals over an extended period of time. The need for LTSS affects persons of all ages and is generally measured by limitations in an individual's ability to perform daily personal care activities (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing, walking) or activities that allow individuals to live independently in the community (e.g., shopping, housework, meal preparation). Most individuals prefer to be cared for in their own homes with the assistance of informal providers such as family members or friends, if available. The most recent published data estimating the number of Americans in need of LTSS indicate that about 10.9 million individuals living in the community need LTSS, or 4.1% of the community-resident population. It was estimated another 1.8 million individuals needing LTSS live in an institutional setting, such as a nursing home. LTSS include a variety of services and supports to assist an individual in maintaining an optimal level of functioning and/or improving his or her quality of life. Examples include a home health aide administering medication, a contractor building a wheelchair ramp onto a home, or a nursing facility where a person resides. LTSS also vary in cost and intensity, depending on the individual's underlying conditions, the severity of his or her disabilities, the setting in which services are provided, and the care-giving arrangement (ie: informal care versus formal care). This book provides an overview of LTSS, including who needs LTSS, how need for LTSS is determined, and how much LTSS costs. The book also provides information on who the primary LTSS payers are, how much they spend, and what types of services are purchased.