Recent data from the National Poll on Healthy Aging based at the University of Michigan reveals major gaps in knowledge and preparation regarding long-term care among Americans aged 50 and over. Nearly two-thirds (62%) believe Medicare would pay for their care if they needed to permanently move into a nursing home. But Medicare generally doesn’t cover this kind of care. It also doesn’t pay family caregivers to take care of someone at home.

The poll also asked about Medicaid, which pays for nearly two-thirds of all long-term nursing home care and is open to adults with lower incomes. Only 29% of older adults said they expected Medicaid to cover their nursing home costs.

The poll also shows that nearly half (45%) of older adults think their need for long-term care is too far off to think about, 52% aren’t worried about their potential need for long-term care, and 57% think it’s unlikely they’ll ever need such care.

But national statistics show that 70% of people who survive to the age of 65 will need long-term  care services in the future, including nursing home or at-home care, or help with medical care and daily tasks such as making and eating meals, dressing and caring for personal hygiene.

When asked about specific ways they may have planned for their future long-term care needs, some adults age 50 and older reported that they:

• Designated a durable power of attorney for medical care (27%)
• Identified people in their lives who could serve as caregivers (24%)
• Made home modifications to help age in place (18%)
• Bought long-term care insurance (11%)
• Looked into or visited assisted living / nursing home facilities (7%)

About half of people age 50 and older (52%) said they have discussed their long-term care plans / options with at least one of the following people:

• A spouse / partner (33%)
• Children (30%)
• A close friend (10%)
• Other relative (9%)
• A health care provider (5%)
• Grandchildren (4%)

Adults age 65 and older were more likely than those age 50-64 to have discussed their long-term care plans with someone (66% vs. 41%).