Making a Long-Term Care Budget

You probably have a budget for things like monthly groceries. Or perhaps for a family vacation. These are important ways to track and limit spending, to maintain financial stability.

But what about long-term care? For most, it's something that is put off until it's too late. Even worse, the costs of long-term care can run well into six figures in your lifetime (or higher, occasionally)!

Regardless, the average cost of long-term care is more than a car, vacation, or even most houses. Budgeting for long-term care could be the most important budget you ever create.

So what does it take to form a budget? Let's walk through some steps and resources together.

The Importance of Creating a Long-Term Care Budget

Creating a long-term care budget ensures that individuals have adequate financial resources set aside for their future care needs. This is true regardless of the types of long-term care you end up needing.

As people age, their care requirements often increase. A structured budget not only aids families in planning for these needs but also offers financial security against unexpected care expenses. It provides seniors and their families the flexibility to choose care and services aligned with their needs. It also ensures they get consistent, high-quality care. 

Budgeting helps maximize resources, from savings to insurance, ensuring seniors enjoy top-notch care without exhausting their resources. It also prevents families from making hasty decisions during emergencies. Lastly, it allows for well-informed choices that focus on the seniors’ best interests.

Budgeting for In-Home Care vs. Facility Care

Budgeting for in-home care, like non-medical caregiving services, primarily focuses on costs related to hourly or daily rates of caregivers, potential home modifications for safety, and any additional specialized services. The flexibility of in-home care often means that costs can be more variable and adjusted based on individual needs.

Conversely, budgeting for facility care encompasses monthly or yearly accommodation fees, which often include basic care and meals.

Facilities might also have tiered pricing based on care levels, such as assisted living versus skilled nursing facilities. They may also have additional charges for specialized services or activities. 

Some facilities might require entrance fees upon admission. Long-term care services at these facilities can differ significantly. It's important to research and determine which long-term care facility type is best for you or your loved one.

While in-home care offers more personalized flexibility, facility care provides an all-inclusive environment which might be more cost-effective for round-the-clock care. In both scenarios, it's crucial to factor in potential insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses to ensure comprehensive budgeting.

Home health care makes up the largest portion of long-term care, but it's important to plan for either care type. Whether it's a room in nursing home care or a home health aide, or other care types such as adult day care services or assisted living facilities, it pays to understand coverages and costs of each.

Ways to Budget for Long-Term Care

Budgeting for long-term care begins with a clear assessment of the type and level of care needed, which can range from non-medical in-home care to nursing homes. This initial decision heavily influences the costs.

It's crucial to research local price averages for these care options, considering variations due to location, facilities, and services. With costs typically rising over time, factors like inflation should be anticipated in planning. 

Long-Term Care insurance (LTCi) policies can mitigate some expenses, but understanding the specifics of policy terms is essential. Paying for Long-Term Care Insurance should be considered in your budget. But the costs of Long-Term Care Insurance are far lower than how much long-term care can cost.

A thorough evaluation of personal financial resources, like savings and retirement funds, helps determine what can be allocated without compromising overall financial health. Always account for unforeseen out-of-pocket costs, such as medications or mobility aids, and ensure a periodic review of your budget to accommodate evolving needs. Lastly, seeking guidance from a financial planner or an elder care expert can offer tailored advice, ensuring well-informed choices. 

Payment Methods for Long-Term Care

When considering long-term care, various payment methods are available to cater to different financial situations. One primary method is private pay, using personal savings or assets.

On the other hand, an increasing number are turning to LTCi, committing to premiums early on to offset anticipated future care expenses. LTCi policies can cover assisted, skilled, or custodial care, as well as in-home senior care, particularly non-medical caregiving services such as those provided by Amada Senior Care.

Additionally, Veterans Administration' benefits for qualifying U.S. veterans and their families can be used to cover a variety of long-term care costs.

A veterans care advocate like Amada Senior Care can offer a complimentary assessment to help veterans and their surviving spouses understand the VA benefits that can be used for in-home care or long-term care. Beyond these traditional methods, innovative solutions like reverse mortgages allow homeowners to convert their home equity into liquid assets.

Similarly, life insurance policy conversions offer a chance for policyholders to translate their policies into a tangible lump sum or structured benefits. Annuities are also financial instruments that offer regular income payouts and can be tailored to address long-term care expenses.

Informal Care Budget vs. Skilled Care

When planning for long-term senior care, it's crucial to differentiate between informal care and skilled care budgets.

Informal care, often provided by family members or friends, usually involves non-medical tasks like companionship, meal preparation, or basic daily activities. The budget for this care typically covers expenses such as compensating a family caregiver, or incidental costs associated with day-to-day assistance. 

On the other hand, a skilled care budget pertains to services provided by professionals, such as licensed nurses, therapists, or trained caregivers.

This care is more specialized and may address medical needs or therapies, or in the case of trained caregivers like those offered by Amada Senior Care, provide nonmedical assistance for activities of daily living (ADLs).

As a result, the budget for skilled care tends to be higher, factoring in professional fees, equipment, and specialized training. Understanding these distinctions is vital, especially when considering non-medical in-home care options like those offered by Amada Senior Care.

Budgeting and Payment Resources

Home and community based services exist to assist you in your journey. Below, several resources are listed that may assist you, including many available right here on LTC News.

Understanding the financial landscape of long-term care is crucial, and leveraging resources for budgeting, payment, and assistance programs can ensure consistent, high-quality care without unnecessary financial strain.

• National Council on Aging (NCOA) - They offer tools and resources for seniors and their families, which include financial management tools tailored for long-term care.
• LTC News Cost of Care Calculator - LTC News provides an interactive tool to compare the costs of different types of care in various locations.
• LongTermCare.gov - This website provides comprehensive information on the nature of long-term care and how one can plan for its costs.
• State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) - These provide free, in-depth, one-on-one insurance counseling and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries on a limited income, their families, and family caregivers.
• Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) - AAAs offer a variety of services including information and referral assistance, caregiver support, and benefits enrollment counseling.
• Certified Financial Planners (CFP) - Especially those who specialize in eldercare or long-term care planning, can provide insights on budgeting and identifying the best payment methods.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs - The DVA offers services for veterans to assist them in care goals.

Cost of Long-Term Care & Likelihood of Care

Does any of this matter if you don't end up needing long-term care? Yes.

For starters, over 50% of the U.S. population is expected to need long-term care in their lives. This flies against the idea that many Americans have that "it won't happen to me." Statistically speaking, it probably will.

The other side of not budgeting is what happens if you're caught unprepared for long-term care costs? Will it become a burden on your spouse or family? What sacrifices will you have to make in your quality of life?

Being prepared avoids these tough questions, making them less intimidating because you've planned ahead with a detailed budget and financial plan.

Budgeting for Long-Term (Care) Success

The tools and resources above can be a great place to start. So can the long-term care educational tools available here on LTC News.

The most important thing, though, is the peace-of-mind of knowing you're prepared for what's to come, either for you or a loved one. And that means creating a thorough budget for long-term care that takes different types of care into consideration.

If you're curious about the cost of long-term care where you are, check out the LTC News Cost of Care Calculator. And if you are interested in obtaining Long-Term Care Insurance, click below to speak with a Long-Term Care Insurance specialist who can help you craft a policy to meet your budget and care needs.