The number of Americans older than 65 keeps rising — and will for decades to come.

While experts say more than half of the aging population will need some version of long-term health care, only a small percentage have begun planning for it.

CNHI News, owner of The Cullman Times, and The Associated Press have collaborated on a multi-story special report that focuses on the many issues and complications involved in long-term senior care, from assisted living and nursing home options to adult day cares and home aides.

This special report, “High Cost of Long-Term Care,” which begins today, is intended to help everyone understand the challenges in affordability, staffing and equity that exist today and lie ahead.

The report will examine what’s covered by Medicare and Medicaid and the requirements for that coverage. We’ll look at long-term care insurance options as well as programs that help people remain in their homes.

It will also look at the short supply of qualified care workers, inequities in availability of long-term care options and how to go about searching for the kind of care everyone would want, whether for yourself or a loved one.