The changing demographic characteristics of the U.S. population indicate that older adults of the future will be more ethnically and culturally diverse and will include a greater share of the oldest old. These changes in the aging population will affect projected demand for LTC services, including the preferred settings in which care is delivered, and the requisite workforce to meet the demand. This study used national surveys to examine the use of LTC services by race and ethnicity, linked this demand to the need for LTC workers, assessed the potential impacts of changing demographics and health status on future demand, and considered the influence of LTC components of the Affordable Care Act on future workforce demand. We extended existing analyses and models that forecast demand for long-term care, to understand how projected demand for different types of LTC services in the future translates to the need for LTC workers.

This project aims to answer these questions: 

• What is the relationship between demographic characteristics and use of each type of LTC service?
• What is the staffing mix currently being used to deliver each type of service?
• What is the projected future use of LTC, based on demographic forecasts, and will current utilization patterns persist?
• How will changes fomented by the Affordable Care Act affect these forecasts? 

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