Educating Younger Generations About Long-Term Care

It’s not an issue on the top of the typical college kid’s mind, but it is one that could play a big part in their lives.

The issue is long-term care costs. Polling shows it’s a concern for older Californians — and rightfully so: “The typical Californian cannot afford long-term care,” says Nina Weiler-Harwell, an advocacy manager for AARP California.

So AARP in the state is setting out to educate young people about the issue that’s already worrying their elders. The idea is to help them understand the need for action — and maybe get them to help their parents or grandparents negotiate the long-term care landscape.

The effort is a top item on AARP California’s 2025 advocacy agenda, along with efforts to boost road safety in the traffic-clogged state and to increase the affordability of housing and energy.

The long-term care effort is getting underway in January, when an AARP public education team of staff and volunteers will visit public and private colleges and universities to speak with students.

The one-hour classroom sessions will address trends in aging, caregiving and long-term care costs; strategies for planning ahead; and ways to access free resources from AARP and the state.

The campaign focuses on “what it means if you cannot pay out-of-pocket and you don’t qualify for any government-subsidized programs,” says Nancy McPherson, AARP California state director. “What options do you have?” (More at aarp.org/RealTalk.)

For just about anybody in that situation, those options will be pricey. Californians who need long-term care can expect annual median costs of $22,000 for adult day care to nearly $160,000 for a private room in a nursing home, according to 2023 data from Genworth Financial.

McPherson says the goal is to develop awareness in younger people so they can make informed decisions and be prepared to advocate for future long-term care legislation. AARP’s campaign will focus on younger people first-, followed by older ones.

One in four Californians is expected to be over age 60 by 2030, and the number of people needing government-subsidized care will grow with the expanding older population, according to California’s Master Plan for Aging, a state strategy.

Mariya Kalina, who is the executive director of the California Collaborative for Long-Term Services and Supports, sees the value of raising awareness about the issue among younger residents. “I don’t think that younger people are planning for the expenses of growing older,” she says.

Survey finds cost concerns

But by the time those younger people are older, the cost of care may weigh heavily. A recent AARP survey found that 79 percent of older Californians said that “having affordable long-term care” was extremely or very important.

At the same time, when asked about a range of health costs during retirement — including long-term care — roughly a third of respondents were not confident of being able to cover them, while one third were “somewhat” confident and one third confident. The survey of 1,010 residents age 45 and older was conducted during the summer of 2024.

“If we can just raise awareness, we can get a chorus going that says, ‘Hey government! We need to do something,’ ” says Karol Swartzlander, executive director of the California Commission on Aging, a government body.

Beyond long-term care, AARP California will advocate during this year’s legislative session for improving road safety. That follows a 2024 effort in support of a bill, signed by the governor in September, that requires the state to meet the needs of all users, including those on bike or foot or using public transportation.

Given the number of older pedestrians and cyclists injured in collisions, “we see that as a severe public health crisis,” says David Azevedo, an AARP California advocacy manager. ■

Julie Rasicot, a writer and editor in Montgomery County, Maryland, writes regularly for the Bulletin.

 Also of interest:

• Outsmart the system: How to Navigate Pharmacy Closures and Surprise Medical Bills
• The Ultimate Guide to Watching Your Grandkids
• Federal Nursing Home Staffing Standards to Increase Care Hours for Residents