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MILWAUKEE, Nov. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Findings from Northwestern Mutual's 2014 Long-Term Care ("LTC") Study released today in conjunction with Long-Term Care Awareness Month reveal sobering realities regarding the state of long-term care preparedness. According to the study, 75% of Americans agree that, as people live longer, the need for LTC planning is greater and 1 in 3 Americans are either currently providing LTC or expect to in the future. However, despite being aware of the implications of longevity, only a fraction of Americans have addressed their own care or understand their family members' wishes regarding LTC.

"Our study confirms that long-term care can have significant financial and lifestyle implications," said Steve Sperka, vice president of long-term care at Northwestern Mutual. "As the need continues to grow --- the U.S. government estimates that 70% of Americans who reach the age of 65 will require some form of LTC --- a disciplined approach to planning for your own longevity needs as well as those of loved ones should be a priority, not an option."

Little Talk, Less Action
When planning for caregiving, individuals have to consider both their own needs as well as those of family members, and findings indicate that Americans are struggling with both aspects. Less than 2 in 5 consumers (37%) said their family members have shared their preferences for long-term care options with them. Additionally, more than half (56%) of future caregivers cite impact on their budgets and retirement plans as a consequence of caregiving.

Americans appear to be even less vocal and focused regarding strategies for their own care:

• Fewer than a third (29%) have addressed the need for LTC within their own retirement plans, while just slightly more than a third (37%) claim to have discussed their own preferences for long-term care with friends and family.
• Of the 61% of respondents with an idea of how they will handle LTC, more than half (35%) are relying on their savings.
• Despite being in the sweet spot for the Sandwich Generation, a segment of the population facing the dual pressures of simultaneously supporting an elderly relative and a child under 18, only 22% of individuals aged 45-54 have addressed LTC in their retirement plans.

"The good news is that people do have long-term care options and the first step is a candid conversation with a partner, parent or relative," adds Sperka. "Once there is a mutual understanding, an experienced advisor can tailor a strategy to help protect income and assets, providing families with clarity for the future."

Women Planning at a Slower Pace
Even though women are more likely than men to believe that they will need long-term care themselves (41% vs. 35%, respectively), they are lagging behind their male counterparts in taking proactive control of LTC planning. Key findings highlighting gender differences include:

• 23% of women and 35% of men say they have addressed LTC in their retirement plan.
• 44% of women say they understand the options and resources available for planning their long-term care as compared to 53% of men.
• 39% of men are saving for their future LTC needs relative to less than a third of women (31%).
• Interestingly, while women are more apt than men to anticipate their friends/family will take care of them should they need LTC (22% vs. 17%, respectively), only a third (34%) have actually expressed their LTC preferences to friends and family.

Resources for Long Term Planning
Hear how a long-term care event impacts the lives of families in this video featuring former journalist Meryl Comer, whose husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's 17 years ago, and other caregivers representing organizations committed to helping families manage the impact of Alzheimer's, dementia and other chronic long-term diseases.

Northwestern Mutual has a range of resources to help individuals think about and plan for long-term care needs:

• Visit the Long-Term Care Cost Calculator for a better understanding of the potential costs if you were to require long-term care services.
• Visit the Lifespan Calculator to estimate out how long you may live in retirement.
• Learn more about the long-term care costs and options available to you.

About the Research
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Northwestern Mutual from September 29 – October 1, 2014 among 2,016 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual has been helping families and businesses achieve financial security for nearly 160 years. Our financial representatives build relationships with clients through a distinctive planning approach that integrates risk management with wealth accumulation, preservation and distribution. With more than $217 billion in assets, $26 billion in revenues and more than $1.5 trillion worth of life insurance protection in force, Northwestern Mutual delivers financial security to more than 4.2 million people who rely on us for insurance and investment solutions, including life, disability and long-term care insurance; annuities; trust services; mutual funds; and investment advisory products and services.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, WI, and its subsidiaries. Northwestern Mutual and its subsidiaries offer a comprehensive approach to financial security solutions including: life insurance, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, annuities, investment products, and advisory products and services. Subsidiaries include Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC, broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, member FINRA and SIPC; the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, limited purpose federal savings bank; Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company; and Russell Investments.

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SOURCE Northwestern Mutual