Soaring long-term care costs push US families into nursing roles they were never trained for

As long-term care costs continue to skyrocket, families are taking on more than just fast-increasing financial burdens. 

Unable to afford professional visits long-term, some relatives have been providing nursing-level care without the proper training, the American Association of Retired Persons has warned.

Here's what to know

According to an AARP report cited by InvestigateTV, the cost of most forms of long-term care rose roughly 50% from 2019 to 2024. Over the same period, older households saw income growth of about 22%, broadening the affordability gap. In response, the organization says, many middle-class families have been providing skilled care themselves.

Nursing-level care comes at a higher price than more routine in-home services, Alan Weil, AARP's senior vice president for public policy, explained. This has meant that the most-needed services have also been among the least affordable. 

"We've learned that a lot of caregivers are being forced to provide nursing care that they can't afford to pay someone else to do, even though they've never been trained in nursing," Weil told InvestigateTV. "So that's where the burden falls back on the family." 

The sandwich generation

The need to provide support for aging family members while also raising children has left many adults living as a so-called "sandwich generation." As costs have risen across the board, many such households have increasingly struggled to make ends meet. 

"If you're paying for care that your parents need, you're not saving for your kids' college," Weil told InvestigateTV. "So this is a squeeze coming from both directions."

What can be done?

Families should not assume that every care expense must come out of their own pockets, the policy expert noted. His advice was to begin preparing early and to research assistance suited to the family's circumstances.

Weil told InvestigateTV that a state Medicaid office is one place to start, since some state and federal programs may help people pay for care. Eligibility requirements can vary by location, but a family member can call the local Medicaid office to ask about qualifications. Families may also visit AARP.org for guidance.

Where can I learn more?

These articles look at the ways in which the costs of care have affected where families live, how they budget, and where they turn for help:

• A Texas woman moved her parents into a backyard tiny home, but care bills overwhelmed her.

• An Indiana family was navigating Medicaid spend-down rules for an older mother's savings.

• The U.S. faces a senior housing crunch, with $1 trillion needed by 2050.

• Priced out of New York City, an only child sought neighboring homes for aging parents

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