Now I believe I feel more frustration. As his illness progresses, it's getting harder for me to constantly care for him and cope with all other responsibilities. Long-term care expenditures are largely used for institutional care. While nursing homes are clearly important in the continuum of care, most people want to remain in their own homes as long as possible. Contrary to popular belief, Medicaid, not Medicare, is the largest source of public funding for long-term care.
Many families spend down to poverty paying for care for an older relative.
The cost of nursing home care is beyond the means of most people. This is less than the cost of one year of nursing home care. Impaired older people and their families who do not qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to pay for home and community-based care or nursing home care, are most at risk of financial bankruptcy. These families desperately need help. 50 Studies document the economic burden on families.