Rising Costs

Like many Americans, religious communities face the monumental challenge of funding elder care. Currently, the average annual cost of care for women and men religious past age 70 is over $35,000 per person. Skilled care can reach nearly $54,000. In 2010 alone, the total cost to support elder religious exceeded $1 billion. These increases, along with market-related declines in retirement savings, have contributed to an estimated unfunded retirement liability for religious communities of over $11 billion.

Cost of Care 1987-2011