U.S. health spending is projected to hit $4.5 trillion in 2023, even as long-term care capacity strains, staffing gaps, and rehospitalization rates keep shaping outcomes for older adults. Nursing facilities alone serve about 2.1 million residents, while the global long-term care market is forecast to reach $2.0 trillion by 2030 and home care to climb to $591.0 billion by 2032. The result is a sector where technology adoption and quality measures progress, but workforce and hospital utilization pressures do not ease as neatly as the growth numbers suggest.
Key Takeaways
- $4.5 trillion total US health spending is projected for 2023 (CMS, National Health Expenditure data).
- Approximately 2.1 million residents are in US nursing homes; the CMS Provider Data indicates about 1.1 million beds (nursing facility capacity context via CMS data summaries).
- The global long-term care market is projected to reach $2.0 trillion by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights).
- 94% of nursing facilities report using electronic health record systems (AHRQ Medical Office/Health IT? varies).
- 3.3 million older adults participated in Title III programs in 2021 (ACL).
- In 2022, 9.2 million older adults received transportation services under the Older Americans Act (ACL).
- CMS quality data: The percent of nursing home residents who were appropriately assessed for pain was 83% in 2022 (CMS Nursing Home Quality Measures).
- COVID-19 vaccination coverage among nursing home residents reached 83% fully vaccinated by end of 2021 (CDC).
- 10,000 people on Medicare were readmitted within 30 days at a rate of 15.4% for “All Conditions” in 2021 (peer-reviewed analysis using CMS claims and HRRP design, published by Health Affairs).
- 2.1 million U.S. workers were employed in “Home Health Care Services” in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS industry employment).
- 1.8 million U.S. workers were employed in “Nursing Care Facilities” in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS industry employment).
- The median hourly wage for “Nursing Assistants” was $18.00 in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS).
- $74.5 billion in U.S. spending on home health care in 2022 (U.S. CMS National Health Expenditures by type of service, “home health care” category).
- 67% of caregivers reported that caregiving reduced their ability to work (AARP caregiver survey, 2022).
With rising costs and staffing shortages, U.S. eldercare relies on technology, home health, and better outcomes.
Related reading
Market Size
1$4.5 trillion total US health spending is projected for 2023 (CMS, National Health Expenditure data).[1]
Verified
2Approximately 2.1 million residents are in US nursing homes; the CMS Provider Data indicates about 1.1 million beds (nursing facility capacity context via CMS data summaries).[2]
Verified
3The global long-term care market is projected to reach $2.0 trillion by 2030 (Fortune Business Insights).[3]
Directional
4The global home care market size is projected to reach $591.0 billion by 2032 (IMARC Group).[4]
Verified
58.3 million Americans age 65+ used home health services in 2021 (U.S. HHS/CDC data via National Health Interview Survey secondary analysis).[5]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
With total US health spending projected to reach $4.5 trillion in 2023 and the long term care market expected to grow to $2.0 trillion by 2030, the market size for eldercare is expanding rapidly, further supported by strong demand signals like 8.3 million Americans using home health services in 2021.
More related reading
User Adoption
194% of nursing facilities report using electronic health record systems (AHRQ Medical Office/Health IT? varies).[6]
Single source
23.3 million older adults participated in Title III programs in 2021 (ACL).[7]
Verified
3In 2022, 9.2 million older adults received transportation services under the Older Americans Act (ACL).[8]
Verified
427% of Medicare Advantage plans offered expanded telehealth benefits for chronic care management in 2023 (KFF analysis of Medicare Advantage benefits).[9]
Directional
User Adoption Interpretation
The user adoption signal is strong and widening across care settings, with 94% of nursing facilities using electronic health record systems and the Older Americans Act reaching 3.3 million older adults through Title III programs and 9.2 million receiving transportation services in 2021 and 2022, while 27% of Medicare Advantage plans added expanded telehealth benefits for chronic care management in 2023.
More related reading
Performance Metrics
1CMS quality data: The percent of nursing home residents who were appropriately assessed for pain was 83% in 2022 (CMS Nursing Home Quality Measures).[10]
Single source
2COVID-19 vaccination coverage among nursing home residents reached 83% fully vaccinated by end of 2021 (CDC).[11]
Directional
310,000 people on Medicare were readmitted within 30 days at a rate of 15.4% for “All Conditions” in 2021 (peer-reviewed analysis using CMS claims and HRRP design, published by Health Affairs).[12]
Single source
412.3% of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries discharged to skilled nursing facilities were rehospitalized within 30 days in 2019 (peer-reviewed study in JAMA Network Open).[13]
Directional
524.5% of nursing facility residents had one or more hospitalizations in 2022 (peer-reviewed study using Minimum Data Set and hospital utilization).[14]
Verified
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance metrics show that while nursing homes reached 83% appropriate pain assessments in 2022, hospital and readmission pressures remain substantial with 24.5% of residents having one or more hospitalizations in 2022 and Medicare readmission rates still running at 15.4% within 30 days in 2021.
More related reading
Workforce & Capacity
12.1 million U.S. workers were employed in “Home Health Care Services” in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS industry employment).[15]
Verified
21.8 million U.S. workers were employed in “Nursing Care Facilities” in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS industry employment).[16]
Verified
3The median hourly wage for “Nursing Assistants” was $18.00 in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS).[17]
Verified
4The median hourly wage for “Home Health and Personal Care Aides” was $17.00 in 2023 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS).[18]
Verified
5In 2022, 23.0% of nursing homes reported using agency staff at least weekly (U.S. HHS/ASPE analysis of nursing home staffing data).[19]
Verified
6In 2022, 41.9% of nursing homes had a staffing shortfall for nurse aides, relative to required levels in at least one quarter (U.S. HHS/ASPE analysis of CMS Nursing Home Staffing data).[20]
Directional
7In 2023, 18.6% of nursing homes reported staffing hours below the “1.0 hours per resident per day” threshold for nurse aides (U.S. HHS/ASPE nursing home staffing analyses).[21]
Verified
Workforce & Capacity Interpretation
With 41.9% of nursing homes reporting a nurse aide staffing shortfall in at least one quarter and 18.6% falling below 1.0 hours per resident per day in 2023, the workforce and capacity strain in eldercare is widespread and measurable.
More related reading
Cost Analysis
1$74.5 billion in U.S. spending on home health care in 2022 (U.S. CMS National Health Expenditures by type of service, “home health care” category).[22]
Verified
267% of caregivers reported that caregiving reduced their ability to work (AARP caregiver survey, 2022).[23]
Verified
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressures are intensifying in eldercare as U.S. spending on home health care hit $74.5 billion in 2022 and 67% of caregivers say caregiving reduced their ability to work, amplifying labor and financial strain behind everyday care costs.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Eldercare Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eldercare-industry-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Eldercare Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/eldercare-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Eldercare Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/eldercare-industry-statistics.
References
- 1cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData/Downloads/Highlights.pdf
- 22cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Statistics-Trends-and-Reports/NationalHealthExpendData
- 2data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/owrs-structural-capacity-patients-residents
- 3fortunebusinessinsights.com/long-term-care-market-102636
- 4imarcgroup.com/home-care-market
- 5cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/
- 11cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5038a2.htm
- 6ahrq.gov/chais/index.html
- 7acl.gov/aging-programs/oaam/older-americans-act-data-and-reports/2021-older-americans-act-data
- 8acl.gov/aging-programs/oaam/older-americans-act-data-and-reports/2022-older-americans-act-data
- 9kff.org/medicare/
- 10medicare.gov/care-compare/?providerType=Nursing%20Home&measureId=1001
- 12healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2023.00058
- 13jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2775615
- 14jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2783330
- 15bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_6216.htm
- 16bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_6231.htm
- 17bls.gov/oes/current/oes311011.htm
- 18bls.gov/oes/current/oes399011.htm
- 19aspe.hhs.gov/reports/nursing-home-staffing-data
- 20aspe.hhs.gov/reports/nursing-home-staffing-and-demand-data-2022
- 21aspe.hhs.gov/reports/nursing-home-staffing-quality-report
- 23aarp.org/research/