If you do need care, you may need nursing home or home health care for only a short time. Or, you may need these services for many months, years, or the rest of your life.

It is heard to know if and when you will need long-term care, but there are some studies that may help.

For Example:

1. One national study projecting nursing home use noted: “Of the approximately 2.2 million persons who turned 65 in 1990, more than 9000,000 (43%) are expected to enter a nursing home at least once before they die.” The same study reported that among people who live to age 65, only 1 in 3 will spend three months or more in a nursing home. About 1 in 4 will spend one year or more in a nursing home. Only about 1 in 11 will spend five years or more in a nursing home. In other words, 2 out of 3 people who turned 65 in 1990 will either never go to a nursing home or will spend less than three months in one.

2. Women are more likely to need nursing home care than men. The study discussed about projected that 13% of women will spend five or more years in a nursing home. Only 4% of men will be in a nursing home that long.

3. As you grow older, your risk of needing nursing home care also goes up.