About one in six Americans are now age 65 or older and, as the average population ages, a majority are reaching the age of retirement in a precarious financial position, as costs of personal care continue to rise.

 解析：age在此处为动词形式，表示“to become older”（变老）。

目前，65岁及以上的美国人占总人口的六分之一左右，随着人口平均年龄的增长，大多数人到了退休年纪，经济状况岌岌可危，因为个人护理费用在不断上涨。

 “Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

 美国长期护理保险协会是一个保险教育组织，其执行董事杰西·斯洛姆说：“我们很多人都想长寿，这也不是遥不可及。”但当我们达到高龄时，需要长期护理的几率也会成倍增加。但当你需要这种护理时，其选择却寥寥无几”。

 Long-term care for older adults includes help with standing, eating and showering, as well as medical support like physical and speech therapy. The Department of Health and Human Services projects more than 56% of those turning 65 will need some sort of long-term service. Medicare only covers shorter-term services and Medicaid covers help for qualifying individuals. Those not eligible for government services often choose to rely on spouses or children who pay for services out of pocket, according to experts.

解析：Qualifying 在次表示“使具有资格的”，此处可理解为“符合条件的人”

老年人的长期护理包括帮助站立、进食和淋浴，以及身体和语言治疗等医疗支持。美国卫生与公众服务部预计，超过 56% 的 65 岁老人会需要某种长期服务。医疗保险只涵盖短期服务，而医疗补助则只为符合条件的个人提供帮助。专家表示，那些没有资格享受政府服务的人通常会选择依靠配偶或子女自掏腰包支付服务费用。

 Long-term care insurance, a very niche and complex market, has traditionally been an option for those able to buy policies, but it is far from the norm.

 解析：niche意为“有自己特定的需求、目标顾客和产品的小众市场”。

长期护理保险是一个非常小众且复杂的市场，一般来说是有能力购买保险的人的一种选择，但它远非寻常事。

 Only 7.5 million people had an active plan in place as of 2020, withuptake generally decreasing year over year, according to the association’s research. The Census Bureau estimates there are almost 58 million adults aged 65 or older in the US, and the number is increasing. The HHS expects more than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older by 2040.

 该协会的研究表明，截至2020年，仅有750万人拥有一份积极的计划，而且购买率普遍逐年下降。据人口普查局估计，美国有近5800万的65岁或以上的成年人，而且这一数字还在不断增加。美国卫生与健康服务部预计，到2040年，每5个美国人中就有1个以上是65岁及以上的老人。

 “The population of seniors who buy long-term care insurance constitutes a segment of the population who are healthier and their longevity is likely different than the nation as a whole,” said Slome. “They tend to be educated on what they’re buying, and they have to be able to afford it.

 解析：tend to 意味“趋向于做某事”，在实际翻译中经常翻译为“往往”。

斯洛姆说：“购买长期护理保险的老年人口中有一部分人比较健康，他们的寿命可能与全国整体情况不同。他们往往对自己购买的保险有所了解，而且他们必须有能力负担得起。”

词汇小结：

• precarious [prɪˈkeriəs]：危险的; 不确定的
• exponential [ˌekspəˈnenʃl]：指数的，幂数的
• therapy [ˈθerəpi]：治疗，疗法
• uptake [ˈʌpˌtek]：举起; （尤指对新事物的）理解力; 摄入

编辑：ETTBL