MetLife MMI Survey: Long-Term Care Costs Rose in 2011

By Warren S. Hersch

October 25, 2011 at 08:18 AM

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Long-term care costs increased during the year past, according to a new report.

MetLife Mature Market Institute, Westport, Conn., published this finding in new survey examining costs for nursing home care, assisted living and adult day services. The survey and an accompanying report provide additional information about long-term care available in the U.S. and a breakdown of costs by region.

The survey shows that national average rates for a private nursing home room increased 4.4% to $239 daily or $87,235 annually, in 2011. Assisted living base rates rose by 5.6% to $3,477 monthly or $41,724 annually.

Adult day services went up by 4.5% to $70 per day, the report says. Home health aides and homemaker/companion service rates were unchanged at $21 and $19 per hour, respectively.

The highest average daily rates for nursing homes continue to be in Alaska, where rates decreased slightly to $655 for a private room compared to $687 in 2010, the survey observes. Costs were lowest in Louisiana, outside the Baton Rouge and Shreveport Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA), at an average of $141 per day for a private room.

For assisted living, the Washington, D.C. area had the highest average monthly base rate at $5,757, a 10% increase from last year. Arkansas, outside of the Little Rock MSA, had the lowest average monthly rate of $2,156, also an increase.

"This year's increases are greater than previous years," says Sandra Timmermann, director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute. "The state of the economy, combined with rising health care and energy costs, are having a significant impact on long-term care rates."

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