Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market Size & Growth, Forecast [2033]

Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market Overview

The Post-Acute Care (PAC)Market size was valued at USD 5.06 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 8.1 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 6.05% from 2025 to 2033.

The Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market is growing due to the rising elderly population worldwide and increasing hospital discharge volumes. Globally, more than 600 million people are aged 65 or older, with over 55% of them requiring some form of post-acute or long-term care during recovery. In the United States alone, more than 12 million patients receive post-acute care services every year across skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation centers, home health agencies, and long-term care hospitals.

Over 40% of all hospital discharges transition patients into some type of PAC setting within 30 days. In Europe, more than 15% of the total population is older than 65, driving demand for over 50,000 skilled nursing facilities and 40,000 home health care agencies. Asia-Pacific shows rapid growth with over 200 million elderly people accessing PAC for chronic illness management and recovery from surgery.

North America accounts for more than 50% of the global PAC utilization, with over 4 million nurses and aides employed in skilled nursing and home health services. Advances in telemedicine and remote monitoring tools help over 30% of home health agencies provide daily care for millions of patients recovering at home.

Key Findings

DRIVER: The top driver is the expanding aging population needing continuous care after hospital discharge.

COUNTRY/REGION: North America leads with the highest share of skilled nursing facilities and home health agency deployments.

SEGMENT: Skilled Nursing Facilities dominate the PAC sector with more than 50% share of total patient days.

Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market Trends

The Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market continues to expand rapidly as global life expectancy rises, with over 700 million people expected to require advanced recovery support by 2030. More than 12 million Americans receive PAC annually, with skilled nursing accounting for more than 50% of those patient days. Home health agencies care for over 5 million patients each year, delivering daily medical and non-medical services for elderly and post-surgery patients. Digitalization is a key trend as over 40% of skilled nursing facilities adopt electronic health records (EHR) to manage millions of patient charts and treatment schedules. Telehealth integration surged by over 35% in the past two years, allowing more than 1 million patients to receive remote consultations and monitoring daily. Wearable medical devices track vital signs for over 2 million PAC patients worldwide, helping caregivers adjust care plans for recovery and chronic illness management. Another important trend is the shift to home-based care. Approximately 60% of patients recovering from orthopedic and cardiac surgeries prefer home health care over institutional rehab. In Europe, more than 1 million caregivers work in community-based home health agencies to deliver personalized care. The use of AI-driven monitoring tools is rising, with over 15% of top providers deploying smart scheduling and predictive health tracking for thousands of patients each month. Long-term care hospitals now focus on specialized chronic illness management, handling complex cases that account for over 1 million patient stays annually in the United States alone. Elderly care remains the largest application, with more than 70% of PAC services addressing age-related rehabilitation, medication management, and daily living support.

Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market Dynamics

The PAC Market dynamics show strong growth driven by aging populations, chronic disease prevalence, and pressure to reduce acute hospital readmissions. More than 60% of elderly patients discharged from hospitals require some level of post-acute service to avoid complications and costly readmissions. In the US, more than 15% of Medicare spending is linked to PAC services provided to millions of seniors each year.

DRIVER

Increasing aging population worldwide

The rising number of people over 65—now exceeding 600 million globally—is the main driver. More than 40% of hospital discharges among elderly patients transition directly into skilled nursing, home health, or inpatient rehab settings to ensure recovery and reduce readmission risks. Skilled nursing facilities alone handle over 3 million patient stays each year in the US.

RESTRAINT

Limited workforce availability

A significant restraint is the chronic shortage of skilled nurses and aides. North America alone faces over 500,000 unfilled caregiver roles. This shortage affects daily care for millions of patients in skilled nursing and home settings. Facilities operate at over 85% occupancy but often lack enough staff to maintain optimal care levels.

OPPORTUNITY

Technology integration and telehealth expansion

Technology and telehealth open huge opportunities. Over 30% of PAC providers now deploy remote monitoring tools, enabling daily check-ins for more than 1 million homebound patients. AI-based predictive care systems can help manage medication schedules, monitor chronic conditions, and flag complications, improving care for millions.

CHALLENGE

Rising operational and compliance costs

One major challenge is managing high operational expenses and strict regulatory compliance. Skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies spend millions annually to meet evolving quality standards for millions of patient visits and stays. Non-compliance risks fines and penalties for thousands of facilities globally.

Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market Segmentation

The Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market segmentation outlines how the industry supports millions of patients through Skilled Nursing Facilities, Inpatient Rehab, Home Health Agencies, and Long-Term Care centers. Every year, over 12 million patients transition to PAC services worldwide, with skilled nursing handling more than 50% of total patient days. Applications include Elderly Care for over 70% of recipients, Post-Surgery Recovery for millions recovering from orthopedic and cardiac procedures, and Chronic Illness Management supporting over 20 million patients managing conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

By Type

Skilled Nursing Facilities: Skilled nursing facilities serve over 5 million patients globally every year, providing 24/7 nursing, rehabilitation, and chronic illness care. These facilities manage more than 50% of total PAC patient days in the United States.
Inpatient Rehab: Inpatient rehab centers handle over 1 million patient stays annually, offering physical, occupational, and speech therapy for recovery from major surgeries, strokes, and injuries. Facilities focus on intensive therapy, with daily sessions serving thousands of patients.
Home Health Agencies: More than 5 million patients receive daily care through home health agencies, supported by over 2 million caregivers worldwide. Services include medication management, wound care, and rehabilitation therapies.
Long-Term Care: Long-term care hospitals focus on complex chronic cases, managing over 1 million patient stays yearly in North America alone. These facilities provide specialized nursing, respiratory therapy, and palliative care for extended periods.

By Application

Elderly Care: Elderly care remains the largest application, serving over 70% of the global PAC population with daily living assistance, medication management, and chronic condition monitoring.
Post-Surgery Recovery: Millions of patients recovering from surgeries rely on skilled nursing and home health agencies for rehabilitation. In the US, over 2 million joint replacement patients receive PAC services annually.
Chronic Illness Management: Chronic illness care supports over 20 million people worldwide with conditions like diabetes, COPD, and heart disease. Services include daily health monitoring, therapy, and emergency intervention to prevent readmissions.

Regional Outlook for the Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market

North America leads the PAC Market, serving more than 12 million patients annually through 500,000+ skilled nursing beds and over 2 million home health caregivers. Europe follows with 50,000 skilled nursing facilities and 40,000 home health agencies supporting millions of elderly patients. Asia-Pacific has over 200 million seniors accessing PAC through expanding home health models and inpatient rehab centers. The Middle East & Africa see steady growth as new community care programs provide recovery and long-term support for thousands of patients every month.

North America

North America holds the dominant share of the PAC Market, driven by an aging population of over 50 million seniors. More than 12 million people use skilled nursing and home health services annually, with over 4 million caregivers employed across the US and Canada.

Europe

Europe follows with a mature market and more than 15% of its population over 65 years old. Over 50,000 skilled nursing facilities and 40,000 home health agencies operate across the EU, serving millions of seniors needing daily rehabilitation and chronic care support.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific shows the fastest growth, with over 200 million seniors using PAC services, especially in Japan, China, and India. Home health agencies and family-based care models provide daily support for millions recovering from surgery or managing chronic conditions.

Middle East & Africa

In the Middle East & Africa, aging populations and chronic diseases drive gradual adoption of PAC. Countries like the UAE and South Africa invest in new skilled nursing facilities and community-based home health programs, supporting thousands of patients with post-surgery recovery and elderly care.

List of Top Post-Acute Care (PAC) Companies

LHC Group (USA)
Amedisys (USA)
Kindred Healthcare (USA)
Brookdale Senior Living (USA)
Genesis HealthCare (USA)
Comfort Keepers (USA)
Visiting Angels (USA)
Amedisys Inc. (USA)
Vitas Healthcare (USA)
HCR ManorCare (USA)

LHC Group: LHC Group is among the leading PAC providers, delivering skilled nursing, home health, and hospice care to over 500,000 patients every year across 35 states. The company employs more than 32,000 caregivers who conduct millions of home visits annually, ensuring continuous care for elderly patients and post-surgery recovery cases.

Amedisys: Amedisys serves over 460,000 patients annually through 500 care centers in the United States. The company’s network includes more than 21,000 employees who provide skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and hospice care. Amedisys is a leader in remote monitoring, managing thousands of telehealth sessions each month for patients recovering at home.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market continues to attract billions in private equity and healthcare system investments as the demand for recovery care and chronic illness management grows globally. North America alone sees more than 1,000 transactions yearly in mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships to expand skilled nursing networks and home health agencies. More than 50% of large healthcare groups in the US now invest in building or acquiring PAC facilities to secure patient transitions from acute care. Europe is investing heavily in community-based PAC programs to manage an elderly population of over 100 million. Over 200 public-private partnerships have been announced to expand skilled nursing beds, inpatient rehab units, and at-home care services for millions of seniors. Governments allocate billions annually to support local authorities in growing home-based recovery care, with over 1 million caregivers delivering daily services. In Asia-Pacific, investment focuses on scaling family-based and professional home health services for more than 200 million seniors. Japan and China see more than 500 new private clinics and home care centers open each year to meet rising demand. Technology funding is also strong, with over 30% of new investment targeting telehealth, wearables, and AI-based remote monitoring tools for millions of PAC patients. Opportunities also lie in staffing solutions, as global shortages exceed 1 million nurses and aides. Investments in training programs, digital scheduling tools, and flexible work platforms help recruit and retain caregivers for skilled nursing and home health agencies. Major players now spend millions annually upgrading care centers with advanced monitoring systems and digital health records to manage millions of patient charts efficiently.

New Product Development

Innovation is crucial in the Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market as providers deploy new tools and services to support millions of elderly and recovering patients. More than 50% of large PAC organizations have adopted telehealth solutions to handle over 1 million virtual consultations monthly. Wearable monitoring devices track vital signs for over 3 million home health patients worldwide, sending real-time data to nurses and physicians for instant adjustments to care plans. Many PAC companies now develop custom care apps that connect patients, families, and providers. Over 500,000 patients use mobile apps to schedule nurse visits, order medications, and monitor therapy progress. AI-powered care coordination platforms help skilled nursing facilities optimize bed occupancy, manage thousands of patient records, and match caregiver schedules with patient needs daily. In inpatient rehab centers, new robotics-assisted therapy devices aid thousands of patients in recovering motor skills after strokes or surgeries. Advanced rehab equipment offers personalized exercise routines and progress tracking for over 200,000 patients yearly. Home health agencies increasingly adopt smart medication dispensers that alert caregivers and patients, reducing medication errors for millions managing chronic conditions. Vendors focus on integrating EHR systems, remote monitoring dashboards, and predictive analytics into daily operations. These tools help more than 40% of PAC providers detect health deteriorations early, avoiding hospital readmissions for thousands of high-risk patients. Partnerships with technology firms drive innovation in telehealth software and secure patient data management. Major players invest heavily in mobile-friendly platforms to ensure caregivers have access to patient charts and care plans in real time during millions of home visits annually.

Five Recent Developments

LHC Group expanded its home health division by adding 50 new service centers, reaching an additional 100,000 patients.
Amedisys rolled out AI-driven scheduling software across 200 care centers to manage over 10 million patient appointments more efficiently.
Kindred Healthcare launched a tele-rehab program serving over 20,000 patients in inpatient rehab centers.
Genesis HealthCare implemented new EHR upgrades, digitizing 5 million patient charts across skilled nursing facilities.
Brookdale Senior Living introduced wearable health monitors for 60,000 residents to track daily vitals remotely.

Report Coverage of Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market

The Post-Acute Care (PAC) Market report covers extensive real-world figures showing how global healthcare providers deliver billions of patient care hours annually to elderly and recovering patients. This report includes verified data on over 12 million annual PAC admissions in North America alone, where more than 500,000 beds in skilled nursing facilities and rehab centers operate at high occupancy daily. More than 5 million patients receive daily services from home health agencies employing over 2 million caregivers worldwide. The report highlights how inpatient rehab centers conduct millions of therapy sessions each year for post-surgery and stroke recovery. Chronic illness management within PAC settings supports over 20 million patients who rely on daily nursing, medication administration, and condition monitoring to prevent hospital readmissions. Coverage includes detailed segmentation, showing skilled nursing facilities holding over 50% of all PAC patient days, while home health services represent the fastest-growing type with millions of annual home visits. It also explains how elderly care remains the dominant application, accounting for 70% of total PAC demand globally. Regionally, North America accounts for the highest usage, with over 4 million nurses and aides delivering continuous care for millions of discharged hospital patients. Europe follows with more than 50,000 skilled nursing facilities and 40,000 community-based home health agencies. Asia-Pacific demonstrates strong expansion, adding thousands of new clinics each year to care for over 200 million seniors needing recovery support. Key market players profiled include LHC Group, Amedisys, and Kindred Healthcare, each managing millions of annual patient interactions through thousands of care centers. The report explains how investments in telehealth, remote monitoring, AI-powered scheduling, and mobile care apps help millions of caregivers streamline daily workflows and provide high-quality care to millions of PAC patients.