The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information
The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website was launched in the fall of 2006 to help Americans take an active role in planning for their potential long-term care needs. The website provides in-depth and objective information about the risks and costs of long-term care, the importance of planning, and the public and private planning and financing options that are available. The Clearinghouse website supplements and supports the Own Your Future Awareness Campaign.
The Own Your Future Awareness Campaign
The Own Your Future Awareness Campaign is a joint federal-state effort to raise awareness about, and planning for, long-term care. Each year since 2005, the Department of Health and Human Services (AoA, ASPE, CMS) partners with selected states to conduct campaigns that include a letter signed by the state’s governor, to all households with members who are 45-65 years of age. The letter offers information about the importance of planning for long-term care, including a free Planning Guide that can be ordered by mail or downloaded from the Clearinghouse website. As of October 2008, 19 states have conducted campaigns.
Funding for the Clearinghouse and the Own Your Future Campaigns was included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (section 6021(d)). The Administration on Aging (AoA), the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are partners in the Clearinghouse website and the Own Your Future Awareness Campaigns.
Resources for Planning
The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care website has three sections:
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Understanding Long-Term Care: This section provides a definition of long-term care and information on risks, costs, and types of services and providers.
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Planning for Long-Term Care: Information on specific areas of planning, suggested planning steps, and resources can be found here, as well as information about the Own Your Future Awareness Campaign.
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Paying for Long-Term Care: This section provides in-depth information on public and private financing resources available to help pay for long-term care.