I believe a long-term care consumer can be anyone of the age of 60 or someone with a mental or physical disability. It wasn't always easy for those needing help to obtain help and only with in the last 50 years or so has it been easier for these groups. The government has implemented acts to help these groups and hopefully make things more sufficient. 

The Older Americans Act was passed in 1965 and was the first act to help serve aging Americans. The act helps provide funding for supportive home, community based services, and elder rights programs. The OAA was a step into the right direction for the elderly but a lot more was to be accomplished in the future. 

Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 which mainly was introduced to not discriminate against those with disabilities. This act includes both mental and physical and doesn't require it to be severe or permanent. A lot of this act has to deal with employers and work related laws. This act also covered the fact that public areas were now responsible for having accommodations for the disabled. A lot of people were scared about this because of the cost to the businesses but thankfully it was passed. 

I'm quite surprised it took the ADA as long as it did to be passed. But then again anything scaring the economy about money can put a lot of people on the fence.