Understanding Long-Term Care: The Problems Older Black Americans Face.

Norma Upshaw, an 82-year-old woman, needed help at home but couldn't find an assisted living facility nearby. Her family ended up building an apartment onto their own home so they could care for her.

This situation highlights a problem: Black Americans are less likely to use assisted living facilities than white Americans. There are many reasons for this, including cost, location, and personal preferences.

Assisted living facilities can be expensive, and many Black Americans cannot afford them. Black Americans also tend to have lower rates of homeownership, which can make it harder to pay for assisted living.

Even when there are affordable options, it can be difficult to find assisted living facilities in Black communities. There is no national list of assisted living facilities, so it's hard to know where they are located.

More research is needed to understand why Black Americans are less likely to use assisted living facilities. It's important to make sure that everyone has access to the care they need as they age.