Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians

The number of Americans aged 65 years or older is expected to increase in the coming decades. Because the risk for disabil-ity increases with age, more persons will need long-term serv-ices and supports (LTSS) to help with bathing, eating, dressing, and other everyday tasks. Long-term services and supports are delivered in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, the per-son's home, and other settings. However, the LTSS sector faces several challenges, including keeping patients and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce shortages, quality problems, and fragmented coverage options. In this position paper, the American College of Physicians offers policy recom-mendations on LTSS coverage, financing, workforce, safety and quality, and emergency preparedness and calls on policy-makers and other stakeholders to reform and improve the LTSS sector so that care is high quality, accessible, equitable, and affordable.