Approximately three-fourths of adults aged 50 or more years said they would prefer to receive long-term care at home, but almost one-fifth said they would prefer an assisted living facility in newly released research by the Nationwide Retirement Institute.
The Harris Poll, on behalf of the institute, queried 1,462 U.S. adults aged 50 or more years, all of whom are either retired or plan to retire within the next 10 years and have investable assets of $50,000 or more. Additionally, 516 U.S. adults aged 50 or more years who are or have been paid or unpaid caregivers for family members or friends were polled. The research was conducted between March 25 and April 10.
When asked, “If you needed it, where would you most prefer to receive long-term care?” 74% of overall respondents said they would prefer to age in place at home. Giving this answer were 77% of respondents who had been retired for 10 or more years, 70% of recent retirees, 75% of future retirees, 76% of participants classified as affluent (those who have with investable assets of $150,000 or more), and 69% of those classified as nonaffluent (those who have investable assets of $50,000 to $149,999).
Assisted living came in second place as the preferred location to receive long-term care, however, with 18% of overall respondents indicating assisted living as their preference. Giving this answer were 18% of respondents who had been retired for 10 or more years, 22% of recent retirees, 16% of future retirees, 18% of participants classified as affluent and 20% of those classified as nonaffluent.
No. 3 on the list of options was a family member’s home, with 5% of overall respondents citing this location as their preference for receiving long-term care. Nursing homes and adult day centers each garnered 1% of overall responses.
Overall, 30% of survey poll-takers said they expect to receive long-term care in assisted living, but the percentage was higher among those deemed affluent (32%) compared with those described as nonaffluent (23%). Also, expecting to live in assisted living were 32% of those who had been retired for 10 or more years, 35% of recent retirees and 26% of future retirees.
See this year’s full results here. Read about last year’s results here.
