Long Term Care Planning
The right plan, the right way, at the right time
At least 70% of people over 65 will need some form of long term care services and support at some point.
2023 Medicare & You, National Medicare Handbook. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Long term care is one of the most pressing issues facing Americans today– and it will only get more urgent as the nation ages. While people are living longer, many have little idea about the added pressures on their “long life care”– fiscally and emotionally.
By 2040 there will be 82.3 million persons 65+, more than twice the number in 20001.
As the older population increases over time, so does the cost of care. When you start planning it is important to be aware of these costs as they can have an impact on your future care.
Genworth Cost of Care Summary
The cost of that care varies based on care setting, geographic location of care and level of care required, among other things. Using Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey tool below, you and your family can calculate the cost of long term care across the U.S. Understanding what the median cost is today is a first step to helping you plan for it.
For current and future statistics visit the Genworth Cost of Care Survey to calculate the cost of care in your area.
Thinking About Long Term Care
While there is much to gain by talking as soon as possible, there’s a substantial amount to lose if we miss the chance. Here are just a few things you should know now, rather than discovering them the hard way later:
- Health insurance and Medicare cover minimal if any of the cost of nursing homes, assisted-living facilities or in-home care– the care many people require late in life. Many people pay out of pocket until they have depleted their assets.
- Without a durable power of attorney you may have to go to court to gain guardianship over your parent so you can handle his or her affairs if they become incompetent. Guardianship is necessary so you can handle your parent’s affairs. Going to court can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful.
- A loved one’s health status can change over night. It’s better to have long term care plans and insurance in place prior to their health taking a turn. At that point it may be cost prohibitive or simply may no longer be an option due to the age or health of the person who will need care or coverage.
- Many of the best care facilities have waiting lists, and some of them require that your parent be able to live independently in order to move in.
- Sometimes it is not the big health problems that affect the golden years, but the smaller annoyances– the inability to pursue a loved hobby, the difficulty hearing, or the fear of falling. When you talk, try to get at these less obvious issues too, as many of them can be resolved.
Being prepared will mean less work, less stress, less worry, and fewer regrets. Talk now.
1 2021 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Understanding Long-Term-Care" (August 2, 2021).