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The cost of care 

The cost of long-term care can be expensive depending on:

• what type of care you need
• how long you need it
• where care is received 

The national average costs listed below are only for one year of care. A study by the Center for Retirement Research found that in most cases, care is needed for three years⁴ — while some individuals need care for a considerably longer period. When planning ahead, you’ll also want to take into account the rising cost of care, which are in line with the long-term average annual rate of inflation, which is 4.1%.⁵

The national average cost of long-term care for one year in various settings:⁶

In 30 years, long-term care is projected to cost over $286,000 per year. That’s $858,000 to $1,430,000 for a three-to five-year care event.¹¹

Click here to find the average cost of care in your area.

4. Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, "How Can We Improve Long-Term Care Financing," June 2008.
5. As measured by the Consumer Price Index for All-Urban Consumers (CPI), over the 50-year period ending 12/31/10.
6. Based on John Hancock’s Cost of Care Survey, conducted by LifePlans, Inc., 2011.
7. Costs rounded to the nearest dollar.
8. Based on care received for six hours a day, five days a week.
9. Based on care received five days a week.
10. The 9-year average annual increases are based on a comparison of data gathered from providers across the country for John Hancock’s 2002, 2005, 2008, and 2011 Cost of Care Surveys.
11. Based on the John Hancock 2011 Cost of Care Survey and projected at the average rate of inflation of 4.1% as measured by the Consumer Price Index for the 50-year period ending December 31, 2010.