<P> In the 1980s, some Nordic countries began making payments to informal caregivers, with Norway and Denmark allowing relatives and neighbors who were providing regular home care to become municipal employees, complete with regular pension benefits . In Finland, informal caregivers received a fixed fee from municipalities as well as pension payments . In the 1990s, a number of countries with social health insurance (Austria in 1994, Germany in 1996, Luxembourg in 1999) began providing a cash payment to service recipients, who could then use those funds to pay informal caregivers . </P> <P> In Germany, funding for long - term care is covered through a mandatory insurance scheme (or Pflegeversicherung), with contributions divided equally between the insured and their employers . The scheme covers the care needs of people who as a consequence of illness or disability are unable to live independently for a period of at least six months . Most beneficiaries stay at home (69%). The country's LTC fund may also make pension contributions if an informal caregiver works more than 14 hours per week . </P> <P> In Canada, facility - based long - term care is not publicly insured under the Canada Health Act in the same way as hospital and physician services . Funding for LTC facilities is governed by the provinces and territories, which varies across the country in terms of the range of services offered and the cost coverage . In Canada, from April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014, there were 1,519 long - term care facilities housing 149,488 residents . </P> <P> Long - term care is typically funded using a combination of sources including but not limited to family members, Medicaid, long - term care insurance and Medicare . One of these includes out - of - pocket spending, which often becomes exhausted once an individual requires more medical attention throughout the aging process and might need in - home care or be admitted into a nursing home . For many people, out - of - pocket spending for long - term care is a transitional state before eventually needing Medicaid coverage . Personal savings can be difficult to manage and budget and often deplete rapidly . In addition to personal savings, individuals can also rely on an Individual retirement account, Roth IRA, Pension, Severance package or the funds of family members . These are essentially retirement packages that become available to the individual once certain requirements have been met . </P>

Who works at a long term care facility