The Yakima Herald: Long-term care could get boost in Legislature March 2, 2017
Yakima Herald Opinion-Editorial:
Our population is aging. On average in the nation, 10,000 people a day turn 65. That pace that will continue for the next two decades. As we age, most of us are going to need long-term care. The number of Washingtonians age 85 and older – those most likely to need care – is projected to be 216,000 by 2030. To put the number in context, that is more than double the population of the city of Yakima.
With over 30 years of experience as a long-term care provider, I have learned a profound lesson: Most consumers don’t understand that Medicare and Social Security benefits do not cover long—term care. This is a significant problem. Regardless of whether care is delivered in the home or in a skilled nursing facility, it can cost between $50,000 and $100,000 per year on average.