October is Long-Term Care Planning Month

Thinking about your long-term care may not be fun and exciting, but it can incredibly helpful to you and your family. Knowing that you have a plan about where and how you want to live as you age can let you feel more secure and confident about your future. A plan will help family members be prepared to help you with your care or find your preferred caregiver and the financial logistics won’t come as a surprise. Let’s look at some of the things to consider when building your long-term care plan.

Personal Care Needs

Activities of Daily Living, such as: bathing, dressing, using the toilet, eating, etc. are basic tasks of everyday life that can become more difficult as we age or if we suffer from certain illnesses or injuries. Other tasks that are sometimes require assistance are housework, money management, taking medication, shopping, caring for pets, etc. These are all activities that you may need help with and it is essential to consider all of your daily activities to properly be prepared in the event that you are no longer able to take care of these needs by yourself.

Who Will Provide Your Care?

There are a handful of options to think about while considering who can assist you in your time of need.

• An unpaid caregiver, such as a family member, neighbor, or friend.
• A paid nurse or caregiver who comes into your home
• Adult day services
• Long-term care facilities

When going over your options of who will provide care, you’ll need to consider finances, availability of caregivers, the extent of assistance you may need, and what makes you feel the most comfortable.

How to Pay for Long-Term Care

Financial responsibility for long-term care can be an overwhelming topic, but it is an essential consideration. If you have private health insurance, you will want to have a discussion with your with them to find out what is or is not covered, or to determine if there are additional benefits you can add to your insurance plan. Public programs such as Medicare and Medicaid provide different services and it’s important to know the difference. Learn more about Medicare here: https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/long-term-care. 

There are many factors to consider when planning for your long-term care and it is an overwhelming task, but it is also important to have a plan. If there is a sudden need for care and you and your family are unprepared, the situation could have detrimental effects on everyone involved. Help your future self and family be prepared by starting a long-term care plan. Talem Home Care can help you with this process. Click here for more details or give us a call with any questions.