Correcting Long-Term Care's Image Problem

Let's face it; the image of long-term care is not good. Not many people tell their friends they can't wait to need extended care and go into a nursing home. That is another problem; too many people think of long-term care as receiving nursing home care when most extended care is delivered at home or in an assisted living facility.

Perhaps this is one reason many people are in denial about the risk of needing long-term health care. Most of us will need some type of long-term care before we die. About half of us will need help with at least two primary daily living activities or supervision due to dementia. The question is when you will need care and for how long.

You can be in denial if you want, but the facts and common sense tell us we all are aging longer since medical science allows us to. Think about the changes to your health and body in the past twenty years. Now imagine the changes to your health, body, and mind you will endure in the next twenty-plus years.

Health, Body, and Mind Change Over Time

Few people want to think about the quality of life once their health starts to deteriorate or once they get old and feeble. As we get older our health declines, plus we see changes in our body and, at some point, our mind. This decline in our health increases our need for help with everyday activities of daily living or supervision due to memory problems. 

We burden our family when we place them in the role of being a caregiver. Family members are not prepared or trained for that role Unpaid Family Caregivers Now Total 53 Million People | LTC News. Paid care will drain savings and income and adversely impact lifestyle and legacy. The cost of long-term health care services increases every year and vary depending on where you live Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News.

Once they need care, many people say, "I never thought I'd end up in a place like this." Some add, "Where did I go wrong?". Dealing with these issues in advance will help us as we age.

A successful retirement plan should include an affordable Long-Term Care Insurance policy. The right policy will prepare your family and finances for the consequences of longevity. 

Maintain Control and Independence with LTC Plan

While nobody wants to need care, however having an LTC Insurance policy in place will ease the burden otherwise placed on family members. You will have access to your choice of care options putting you in control. You can both maintain independence and protect assets giving your family the time to be family.

Start planning before you retire. You can use the many resources on LTC NEWS to help in your research - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning | LTC News