Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE): Understanding the Growing Demand for Long-Term Services and Support

The aging U.S. population is expected to increase the demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS), much of which is currently provided by informal caregivers. However, for those requiring paid LTSS, most Americans rely on personal funds and then turn to Medicaid once their resources are depleted. This reliance on Medicaid for individuals with limited income and assets could increase federal and state spending on LTSS. To address this concern, a project was initiated to analyze the current cost of long-term care, national expenditures on LTSS, and future predictions regarding the availability of informal caregivers. The project explores how demographic changes will impact the supply of informal caregivers for older Americans. One of the project's primary goals is to provide updated estimates of national LTSS expenditures and projections that illustrate how changing demographics may affect the demand for LTSS, the availability of future caregivers, and Medicaid spending.

Click here to read the four reports on caregivers and LTSS from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).