While the greater availability of third-party financing would surely increase use, the likely increase is probably not as great as some fear. The overwhelming majority of elderly want to stay out of nursing homes if at all possible. Canada and other countries that pay for long- term care through social insurance systems have not found use to increase to unacceptable levels. Although most disabled elderly are receiving only unpaid services from families, the extent of paid assistance varies by degree of disability. For example, 58 percent of the severely disabled elderly already receive paid services. Thus well-circumscribed eligibility criteria would limit the extent to which use could increase. Finally, most evidence suggests that families do not withdraw care when paid services are provided.
(William J. McAuley and Rosemary Blieszner, April 1985).