My mom is on Social Security and needs assisted living, but can’t afford any non-Medicaid options. What else can we do?

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Older adults in the U.S. are sounding the alarm on their concerns about the healthcare system. The John A. Hartford Foundation reports that 56% of older adults say it is difficult and stressful to navigate the health care system, and 62% believe health insurance plans come with too many confusing choices (1). Moreover, misinformation about health care coverage abounds.

Consider this scenario: You’ve witnessed a severe decline in your mother’s cognitive health and ability to care for her own needs, but neither you nor your family are able to care for her around the clock. That leaves one option: a nursing home.

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Your first inclination might be that Medicare will help cover the costs, and you wouldn’t be alone. The Kaiser Family Foundation found that 55% of U.S. adults believe Medicare will cover a long-term stay in a nursing home, which is not the case (2).

Despite this lack of coverage, most older adults will require this kind of care. A 2019 study from the government Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation found that 70% of adults who live to age 65 will need some Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) before they die (3). Older adults with fewer financial resources are more likely to need this kind of care.