Long term care for the rural elderly new directions in services research and policy by graham d rowles editor joyce e beaulieu editor wayne w myers editor 0 more isbn 13 978 0826193803. Rural long term care facilities may include nursing homes provide residential accommodations help with activities of daily living and 24 hour skilled nursing care assisted living facilities provide housing and services to people who need assistance but do not require round the clock skilled nursing care. The use of long term care services varies by living area long term care of the disabled elderly imposes a substantial burden on families our study revealed that informal care involves huge opportunity costs to the caregivers chinese policy makers need to promote community care and long term care insurance to relieve the burden of families of disabled elderly and particular attention should be given to the rural elderly. Rural long term care research priorities there is a paucity of research on long term care in rural areas and what exists is mostly outdated there is a crucial need to understand current trends and how post acute and long term care services may affect the health quality and outcomes of rural elders. Long term care of the disabled elderly imposes a substantial burden on families our study revealed that informal care involves huge opportunity costs to the caregivers chinese policy makers need to promote community care and long term care insurance to relieve the burden of families of disabled elderly and particular attention should be given to the rural elderly