Long-Term Care Market Analysis

The South America long-term care market is an emerging but rapidly evolving regional market, defined by accelerating demographic aging, limited formal care infrastructure, and a heavy reliance on unpaid family caregiving. The market encompasses formal, paid services delivered across home healthcare, nursing care and skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice and palliative care, and other specialized services for individuals requiring sustained support with activities of daily living. The region is characterised by a sharp divide between Brazil, which accounts for the largest share of the elderly population and formal care infrastructure, and the remaining countries, where long-term care systems remain fragmented, underfunded, and heavily dependent on families. Across Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 8 million older persons depend on long-term care, representing 12% of people aged 60 and above and almost 27% of those aged 80 and above, with this figure projected to triple to 23 million by 2050. According to the research report, "South America Long Term Care Market Outlook, 2031," published by Actual Market Research, the South America Long Term Care Market is expected to reach a market size of more than 16.40 Billion by 2031. The region's population aged 65 and above is projected to reach 138 million by 2050, with the proportion of people aged 65 and above increasing from 10.4% in 2025 to 16.3% by 2050. The demand for long-term care workers in Latin America is expected to double from 7.5 million in 2023 to 15.2 million by 2050, reflecting the scale of the workforce challenge facing the region. The region's long-term care market remains heavily dependent on unpaid family caregiving, with nearly 90% of women aged ten and over participating in unpaid work and related activities in Colombia, compared with 65.2% of men. Brazil dominates the regional market with 35.2 million people aged 60 and above in 2025, representing 16.6% of the total population, and approximately 7,000 long-term care institutions for the elderly (ILPIs) serving around 160,000 residents. Colombia represents the fastest-growing market, with 8.17 million people aged 60 and above representing 15.4% of the population, and the approval of CONPES 4143 in February 2025 establishing a National Care Policy with 133 actions and an indicative budget of 25.6 trillion pesos over ten years. Nursing homes remain the largest service segment in Brazil, while home healthcare is the fastest-growing segment across the region, driven by the strong preference for aging in place and the limited availability of institutional care. Public payers represent a growing but still limited funding source, while out-of-pocket spending and unpaid family caregiving remain predominant across most countries. .

Market Dynamic

 Long-Term CareSegmentation

South America Long-Term Care Market By Service Type



Nursing Care / Skilled Nursing Facilities is the largest service segment because institutional care remains the predominant formal care model across the region, with high-acuity residents requiring 24-hour supervision in countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.

Nursing care and skilled nursing facilities represent the largest service segment in the South American long-term care market, driven by the predominance of institutional care models across the region. Brazil has approximately 7,000 long-term care institutions for the elderly (ILPIs) serving around 160,000 residents, representing just 0.5% of the population aged 60 and above. Argentina has approximately 3,800 registered geriatric homes and residences nationwide, with nearly 600 in the city of Buenos Aires alone. In Chile, 97% of long-term care establishments are private, with 55% for-profit and 42% non-profit, while only 3% are public. The segment faces significant workforce and financial challenges, with 52% of Chilean ELEAM owners considering closing their facilities due to rising operating costs, and 86% reporting an increase in operating expenses.

Home Healthcare is the fastest-growing service segment because the strong preference for aging in place and government policies promoting home-based care are driving demand across the region.

Home healthcare represents the fastest-growing service segment in the South American long-term care market, driven by the strong preference for aging in place and government policies promoting community-based care. In Chile, 87% of older persons want to spend their final years at home, according to the Ministry of Social Development's Local Support and Care Network, yet the state's Home Care programme reaches only 2.9% of the target population. In Brazil, the Ministry of Health's Home Care Program for the Elderly (Padi), established in December 2025, represents a significant step toward systematising home-based care for elderly individuals with stable chronic conditions or functional decline. In Colombia, the National Care Policy includes actions to strengthen community-based services and reduce the burden of unpaid care work on families. The segment faces significant workforce shortages, with the demand for caregivers projected to double from 7.5 million in 2023 to 15.2 million by 2050.

South America Long-Term Care Market By Payer Type



Public is the largest payer type because government financing through national health systems and social assistance programmes dominates long-term care funding across the region, though coverage remains limited relative to need.

Public sources are the dominant payer for long-term care services across South America, though coverage varies significantly by country. In Brazil, the National Care Policy established by Law No. 15.069/2024 and regulated by Decree No. 12.562/2025 represents a historic framework for care system development, with the Home Care Program for the Elderly (Padi) providing additional financial incentives to eMulti teams for home-based care. In Colombia, the National Care Policy through CONPES 4143 has an indicative budget of 25.6 trillion pesos over ten years, and the Colombia Mayor programme reaches approximately 4 million older adults with a solidarity basic income. In Argentina, PAMI operates a Programme of Comprehensive Care in Long-Stay Residences for Older Persons, with 563 private residences under agreement and five publicly owned long-stay residences, serving approximately 22,000 affiliated residents nationally. In Chile, the National Policy on Ageing and Old Age provides a framework for comprehensive care, though public ELEAM represent only 3% of total establishments.

Private represents a growing payer type because private equity investment in senior living and the expansion of private care home operators are increasing across the region.

Private sources account for a growing portion of long-term care spending in South America. In Brazil, private services for older adults are concentrated primarily in institutional residential models, while public home care programmes remain limited. In Chile, 97% of long-term care establishments are private, with 55% for-profit and 42% non-profit, reflecting the privatisation of residential care. In Argentina, the vast majority of the approximately 3,800 registered geriatric homes are privately operated. In Colombia, the National Care Policy through CONPES 4143 has created a strategic horizon through 2034, identifying the inequitable organisation of care as a national policy problem and establishing four broad objectives, with private sector investment in senior living growing.

South America Long-Term Care Market By Age Group



The 85 years and above cohort is the largest age group because the highest per capita utilisation of long-term care services is concentrated among the oldest-old population, with the vast majority of institutional residents aged 80 and above.

The 85 and above age group accounts for the largest share of long-term care spending across South America, driven by the highest per capita utilisation of services. In Chile, 59% of residents in long-term care establishments are aged 80 and above, according to the Second National Survey of Long-Stay Establishments for Older Adults (ELEAM 2025). In Argentina, women aged 75 and above represent almost 6% of the total female population compared with 4% of men, representing 55% more female presence in the oldest age group. In Brazil, the feminisation of ageing is a significant phenomenon, with women outnumbering men in the oldest age cohorts. The 85+ population is the fastest-growing demographic segment across the region, with the number of people aged 80 and above projected to increase substantially by 2050.

The 75 to 84 years cohort is a significant age group because it represents the transition phase for many long-term care users moving from home-based services to institutional care.

The 75 to 84 age group represents a significant share of long-term care spending. In Chile, the average age of residents in long-term care establishments is above 80, with most residents presenting high levels of dependency and, in many cases, limited active family networks. In Brazil, the 75-84 population is growing rapidly as the baby boom generation ages. In Argentina, the ageing index reached a record high, with 53 people aged 65 and above for every 100 people under 14 years of age. This cohort is in the transition phase for many long-term care users, moving from home-based services to institutional care as functional decline accelerates.

South America Long-Term Care Market By Gender



Female is the largest gender segment because higher life expectancy and higher rates of disability in advanced age drive greater long-term care utilisation among women, who also dominate the caregiving workforce.

Women account for the largest share of long-term care spending across South America, driven by higher life expectancy and higher rates of disability in advanced age. In Argentina, the feminisation of ageing is a significant phenomenon, with women aged 75 and above representing almost 6% of the total female population compared with 4% of men, representing 55% more female presence in the oldest age group. In Colombia, among the 8.17 million adults aged 60 and above, women represent 55.7% while men represent 44.3%, with 89.8% of women aged ten and over participating in unpaid work and related activities for September 2024 to August 2025, compared with 65.2% of men. In Brazil, the caregiving workforce is predominantly female, with women comprising the majority of caregivers. Women also dominate the long-term care workforce, comprising the majority of nurses, direct care workers, and family caregivers. The National Care Policy in Colombia explicitly recognises the disproportionate burden of care work on women and aims to reduce it.

Male is a smaller but growing gender segment because the gender gap in long-term care utilisation is gradually narrowing as male life expectancy increases.

Men account for a smaller but growing share of long-term care spending. In Colombia, men represent 44.3% of the adult population aged 60 and above, with 65.2% participating in unpaid work and related activities. In Argentina, men represent approximately 4% of the population aged 75 and above, compared with almost 6% of women. In Brazil, the gender gap in long-term care utilisation is gradually narrowing as male life expectancy increases. The caregiving workforce remains predominantly female, with women providing the majority of unpaid family care across South America. The National Care Policy in Colombia recognises care as a right across the life course and includes actions to promote co-responsibility between men and women in caregiving.

 Long-Term Care Market Regional Insights

Brazil dominates the South American long-term care market because the largest elderly population in the region, the most extensive formal care infrastructure, and the most comprehensive policy framework create the largest and most developed demand base for services.

Brazil represents the largest contributor to the South American long-term care market, with 35.2 million people aged 60 and above in 2025, representing 16.6% of the total population an increase of nearly 59% from 22.2 million in 2012. The country has approximately 7,000 long-term care institutions for the elderly (ILPIs) serving around 160,000 residents, representing just 0.5% of the population aged 60 and above. The National Care Policy, established by Law No. 15.069/2024 and regulated by Decree No. 12.562/2025, established the National Care Plan with 79 concrete actions across five strategic axes, including the prioritisation of elderly individuals requiring care and support for daily living activities. The Home Care Program for the Elderly (Padi), instituted in December 2025, represents a significant milestone in systematising home-based care. The caregiving sector grew 74% over five years, with more than 57,000 new caregiving businesses opened in 2025 alone. The market faces significant workforce and infrastructure challenges, but offers substantial growth opportunities as the population continues to age and as the National Care Plan is implemented.
Colombia represents the fastest-growing long-term care market supported by a comprehensive national care policy, significant government investment, and a rapidly aging population.

Colombia's population aged 60 and above reached 8.17 million in 2025, representing 15.4% of the total population, with women representing 55.7% and men 44.3%. The country's CONPES 4143, approved in February 2025, establishes a National Care Policy with 133 actions implemented by 34 national entities over a ten-year horizon with an indicative budget of 25.6 trillion pesos. The policy is structured around four strategic objectives: recognition and protection of community and collective care, improvement of the quality of life of caregivers, transformation of the social organisation of care, and strengthening of state capacity. Bogotá's Communities of Care programme provides comprehensive care for more than 1,900 older adults through 20 Care Communities, with interdisciplinary teams supervising and accompanying users in basic activities of daily living and health procedures. The Colombia Mayor programme reaches approximately 4 million older adults with a solidarity basic income. The country's unpaid care work is estimated at 230.3 trillion pesos, representing 19.6% of GDP, according to DANE's Satellite Account of the Care Economy. The market is positioned for continued rapid development as the National Care Policy is implemented and as private sector investment in senior living grows.