Average life expectancy for a 40-year old: 78.7 years
Average life expectancy for a 65-year old: 82.7 years
Percentage of those now aged 65 who are expected to survive to age 90: 25%
Percentage of those over 85 who need help with activities of daily living: 50%
Average annual cost of a nursing home nationwide: $51,000 ($140/day)
Average annual cost of a nursing home in urban areas: $73,000 ($200/day)
Average length of stay: 2.3 years
Percent who stay 5 years or more: 21%
Percent of Americans who are expected to need long-tem care: 50%-60%
Percentage of Americans who have ever purchased a long-term care policy: 6%
Percentage of nursing home residents who exhaust their resources to pay for care: 50%
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, Health Insurance Association of America, and New England Journal of Medicine.