Two out of every five Americans will need long-term care at some point in their lives. More than any other socioeconomic group, women are disproportionately affected by long-term care. The reason behind this lies in the fact that women live longer than men and thus, are more likely to develop the functional ailments that require long-term care services. Two-thirds of residents in long-term care facilities are women.

Several other factors contribute to the need for long-term care. Families are geographically scattered. Time, travel expenses and other responsibilities make it nearly impossible to provide the care older family members may need. In addition, the primary caregivers in most families are women, and today more women work outside the home.

Although most long-term care services are used by the elderly, young adults, children, and even infants use long-term care services due to chronic illness, disability or accident.

• Nursing Care Institution (Skilled Nursing Facility)
  A skilled nursing facility provides inpatient “nursing services” to people who need nursing services on a continuing basis but do not require hospital care of direct daily care or direct daily care from a physician. Facility staff provide supervision and maximum assistance in meeting the patient's needs under medical supervision.
• Assisted Living Centers
  A congregate or apartment-type setting of more than 10 persons who are independent or semi-independent which provides at a minimum: accommodation and board and could additionally provide general supervision.
• Assisted Living Homes
  An assisted living home is a residential care institution which provides “supervisory care,” “personal care” or “directed care services” to not more than 10 adults who are unrelated to the manager or owner of the home and who require assistance of no more than one person to walk or to transfer from a bed chair or toilet but who are able to self-propel a wheelchair.