This grant is part of a very large coordinated effort, organized by the National Academy of Social Insurance, to provide policymakers with current research and expert insights on current and future long-term care options so they can make informed choices among these options.
The first part of the project will seek to document the scope of the long-term care problem, both now and in the future. The second part of the project will map out the current and possible future "social contract" for long-term care by comparing other arrangements for which Americans have evolved an implicit social contract, such as retirement income, disability income, health care financing, or other social services.
The magnitude of the long-term care problem will be explored from the dual perspectives of those who need care and those who provide care. The project will examine the different needs of subsets of the population who need long-term care, including the frail elderly, adults with cognitive impairments, or physical disabilities. Similarly, all types of caregivers and caregiving institutions will be examined; such as paid caregivers, family members, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
