Long-term Care Insurance Utilization and Health and Life Satisfaction of Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Dementia and Disabilities

Authors

  • Haiji Zhao City University of Macau, Macau, China

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54097/dqepja46

Keywords:

Long-term Care Insurance, Family Caregivers, Older Adults with Dementia and Disabilities, Health and Life Satisfaction

Abstract

This paper reviews the existing literature on how long-term care insurance (LTCI) utilization has impacted health, life satisfaction and subjective well-being (SWB) among family caregivers of older adults with dementia and disabilities. Basically, researchers showed positive effects of LTCI use on caregivers' physical and mental health status as well as their life satisfaction level. But the positive effects varied by caregivers' age, residence, care recipients' symptoms etc. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the merits and limitations of prior research and proposes policy implications and future research directions.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

[1] An, R., & Xiu, S. (2024). The impact of long term care insurance on the health status and healthcare expenditure of older adults in China. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1514603. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1514603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1514603

[2] Bao, X., Ma, Q., Jin, G., & Chen, H. (2026). Evaluation of the effect of long term care insurance policy from a multi dimensional health perspective. Population and Development, 32(2), 71 82. (in Chinese)

[3] Chen, L., Zhang, L., & Xu, X. (2020). Review of evolution of the public long term care insurance (LTCI) system in different countries: influence and challenge. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1), 1057. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913 020 05878 z. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05878-z

[4] Chen, R., & Tang, W. (2026). From pilot programs to nationwide implementation: Reform of China's long term care insurance in an aging society. BioScience Trends, 20(3), 254 264. https://doi.org/10.5582/bst.2026.01145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5582/bst.2026.01145

[5] Chu, Y., & Zhang, L. (2026). Long Term Care Insurance Coverage and Family Care for Older People in Rural Areas: Evidence From China. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 41(3), 507 520. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.70061. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.70061

[6] Coe, N. B., Goda, G. S., & Van Houtven, C. H. (2023). Family spillovers and long term care insurance. Journal of Health Economics, 90, 102781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102781. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhealeco.2023.102781

[7] Han, X., & Zheng, W. (2025). Does public long term care insurance affect spousal labor supply? Evidence from China. Economic Modelling, 153, 107355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107355. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econmod.2025.107355

[8] Hu, H., & Liu, Y. (2026). Benefit payment design and subjective well being of the elderly: Evidence from China's long term care insurance pilots. Social Science & Medicine, 400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119307. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119307

[9] Hu, H., & Zhang, K. (2024). Joint Study on the Trajectory of Disability and Dementia among the Elderly Population in China — Also on the Optimization of Long Term Care Insurance Assessment Policies. Chinese Journal of Population Science. (in Chinese)

[10] Jiang, W., & Yang, H. (2025). The effect of long term care insurance on health outcomes and medical services utilization: based on an analysis of moderating effect of disability. Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, 44(1), 344. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043 025 01070 3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s41043-025-01070-3

[11] Ke, J., & Sun, F. (2025). Long term care insurance and health inequality: evidence from China. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 40(3), 594 606. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3905. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/hpm.3905

[12] Lei, X., & Bai, C. (2022). Long term care insurance and the well being of older adults and their families: Evidence from China. Social Science & Medicine, 296, 114745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114745. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114745

[13] Li, L., & Lu, M. (2022). The Impact of Long Term Care Insurance on the Life Satisfaction of Middle Aged and Elderly People — An Empirical Analysis Based on CHARLS Data. Southern Population. (in Chinese)

[14] Li, M., & Liu, L. (2026). More than health: long term care insurance reshaping family support in aging China. Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 38(3), 472 494. https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2026.2640862. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08959420.2026.2640862

[15] Lin, S., Yauk, J., Liu, J., Frick, K. D., Liu, Y., Haley, W. E., Dou, X., & Meng, H. (2026). Caregiver burden and quality of life among caregivers of beneficiaries in a long term care insurance program. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648261436868. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648261436868

[16] Liu, X., & Ji, L. (2024). How does long term care insurance affect the mental health of the elderly? Studies in Labor Economics, 12(3), 35 63. (in Chinese)

[17] Liu, Y., & Xu, W. (2025). Caregiving experiences of family caregivers of disabled middle aged and older adults enrolled in long term care insurance: a qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 24(1), 67. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912 024 02613 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02613-5

[18] Liu, Z., & Shi, R. (2025). Impact of long term care insurance on health out of pocket expenditure ratios for older adults. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1616761. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1616761. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1616761

[19] Man, X., & Ma, C. (2023). Effect of long term care insurance on health condition, medical expenditure and family care of the urban elderly in China: a CHARLS data analysis. Chinese Journal of Public Health, 39(8), 971 975. https://doi.org/10.11847/zgggws1141062 (in Chinese)

[20] National Bureau of Statistics. (2025). Statistical Communiqué of the People's Republic of China on the 2025 National Economic and Social Development. (in Chinese)

[21] People's Daily. (2026). Implement the long term care insurance system to build a robust safety net for disabled individuals. (in Chinese)

[22] Wu, W., & Zhou, R. (2025). Enhancing the support of China's long term care insurance system for parents of the only child. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1641398. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1641398

Xiao, Y. (2025). Study on the Impact of Long term Care Insurance on Elderly Care Models. Population and Development. (in Chinese)

[23] Xing, H., Jing, T., & Yan, Y. (2025). Study on Long term Care Insurance, Traditional Family Care and Mental Health of the Elderly. Southern Population. (in Chinese)

[24] Xing, M., & Wu, L. (2026). Long term care insurance pilot exposure and severe depression risk among older adults with baseline severe IADL impairment: a panel difference in difference in differences analysis. BMC Geriatrics, 26, 1017. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877 026 07861 5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07861-5

[25] Xue, H., & Zhang, Y. (2025). Study on the impact of long term care insurance on the health of the elderly — an empirical analysis based on CHARLS Data. Journal of Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, 32(3), 20 30. (in Chinese)

[26] Ye, B., & Xu, Y. (2024). Why are people with dementia overlooked in long term care insurance policy in Guangzhou, China? BMC Health Services Research, 24(1), 1646. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913 024 12126 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-12126-1

[27] Ye, Y., Gu, D., & Li, Y. (2025). The Impact of the Long Term Care Insurance System on Self Rated Health Status and Health Inequality Among the Elderly in China. Medicine and Society, 37(11), 44 51. https://doi.org/10.13723/j yxysh.2024.11.007 (in Chinese)

[28] Yin, S., Chen, W., Jia, C., Yao, Y., & Yao, L. (2024). Effect of long term care insurance on medical expenditure and health status: National cohort study. Archives of Public Health, 82(1), 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690 024 01388 0. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-024-01388-0

[29] Zai, X. (2025). From criticism to comfort: the relational benefits of long term care insurance. Health Services Research, 61(1), e70026. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475 6773.70026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.70026

[30] Zhang, L., Li, S., & Fang, Y. (2024). Study on the effect and influencing factors of long term care insurance on unmet long term care needs of middle aged and elderly people. Chinese Journal of Health Statistics, 41(5), 697 700+704. https://doi.org/10.11783/j.issn.1002 3674.2024.05.013 (in Chinese)

[31] Zhang, Q., Zhou, C., & Li, C. (2025). The mechanism of long term care insurance in promoting the mental health of the elderly — health support effect and intergenerational emotional support effect. Journal of Guangdong University of Finance & Economics, 40(2), 90 103. (in Chinese)

[32] Zhang, W., & Mei, Z. (2023). A Study on the Impact of Long Term Care Insurance on Beneficiaries' Other Rated Life Satisfaction. Journal of Beijing Administration Institute, 26(6), 118 125. https://doi.org/10.16365/j.cnki.11 4054/d.20241108.002 (in Chinese)

[33] Zhu, X., Gu, N., Chen, Q., & Gao, L. (2024). The Impact of Long Term Care Insurance on the Subjective Well Being of the Elderly — An Empirical Analysis Based on CHARLS Panel Data. Chinese Health Service Management, 41(3), 264 268. (in Chinese)

Downloads

Published

28-10-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Academic Journal of Management and Social Sciences

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.