2013 AARP Survey Of Oregon Members On Long-Term Care and Caregiving Issues

Long-term care is an issue that is important to Oregon members. When asked to rate seven important issues Oregon elected officials should make a priority, the top three issues are jobs creation and development, long-term care services for vulnerable and low-income adults, and K-12 education. About three-quarters of respondents say that the top two issues, jobs and long-term care, should be a top priority for elected officials.

Some highlights for the report are: 

• The older adult population is rapidly increasing and the need for long term services and supports rises greatly as individuals reach ages 85 and older. Over the next ten years, the number of Oregonians ages 85 and older is projected to increase from 80,959 in 2010 to 121,741 in 2022.  LTC services and supports vary greatly in cost and are not covered by traditional medical health plans. 
• When asked where they would prefer to receive long-term care services, one-third of Oregon AARP members say they would prefer to be cared for by friends and/or family at home, and 59 percent said they would prefer to pay a nurse or a personal care aide to provide the care at home. Fifty-eight percent said they would prefer to have care provided in a residential facility, such as an assisted living residence, while about one-quarter preferred a nursing home.
• Being able to stay at home as they age, and having home and community based services available in their community is important to many AARP Oregon members. Thirty-one percent say they are extremely or very worried about staying in their own homes as they age.
• 79 percent of Oregon members say it is extremely or very important for them to have home and community based services available in their community.

This report is based on data from a mail survey of 2,000 AARP members residing in the state of Oregon fielded from November 28, 2012 through January 18, 2013. For more information, contact Cassandra Burton at 202-434-3547.