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In this story from the High Cost of Long-Term Care series from the Associated Press, this story focuses on adult day services provide stimulation for older Americans, and respite for full-time caregivers.

Federal estimates suggest 70% of people ages 65 and older will need long-term care before they die, but only 3% to 4% of Americans age 50 and older are paying for long-term care policies, according to insurance industry figures.

Many Americans are unprepared for what can be an emotional, costly and guilt-inducing process of finding long-term care for a loved one. Advance planning can help. But an AP-NORC poll in 2021 found most Americans don't discuss the possibility of long-term care, let alone prepare for it.

Nearly half of Americans over 65 will pay for some version of long-term health care, the landscape of which is quickly transitioning away from nursing homes and toward community living situations. An analysis by The Associated Press with the help of CNHI °µºÚ±¬ÁÏ finds Black Americans are less likely to use residential care communities and more likely to live in nursing homes.

Medicaid has become the primary safety net for long-term care in the U.S., covering more than 50% of the estimated $400 billion in long-term care costs annually, according KFF, a nonprofit independent organization focused on health policy.

Despite growing demand for long-term care, the industry struggles with labor shortages, and experts worry about whether there will be enough workers in the future to care for America’s aging population. The direct care workforce is predominantly made up of women and people of color, and they face low pay, the risk of injury and other issues.

A report has found that half of rural hospitals lost money over the last 12 months. But small-town hospitals in states that expanded Medicaid eligibility have fared better financially than those in states that didn’t.

The Tepeyac Community Health Center played a lead role in turning a former industrial lot in north Denver into a multi-use development that includes 150 affordable housing units, a new 24,500 square foot clinic, pharmacy, and also plans to add a grocery store offering fresh produce.

Colorado is placing a bigger focus on higher education with a new bi-partisan effort. State leaders hope that emphasis will help address worker shortages, especially in health care. We learn more today on In The NoCo.

Over the past five years, more than 15,000 lawsuits have been filed against UCHealth patients over medical debts. But if you are one of the people being sued, you might not see the hospital system’s name on the papers. John Ingold with The Colorado Sun told KUNC that in the past, UCHealth filed bill collection lawsuits under its own name—but now the vast majority are in the name of a third-party debt collector.