Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and/or transferring (e.g., getting out of a chair or out of bed). These six actions are called Activities of Daily Living–sometimes referred to as ADLs. In general, if you can’t do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need “long-term care.”

Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home, but it can also be provided in an adult day care center, an assisted living facility, or at home.

Assistance with ADLs, called “custodial care,” may be provided in the same place as (and therefore is sometimes confused with) “skilled care.” Skilled care means medical, nursing, or rehabilitative services, including help taking medicine, undergoing testing (e.g. blood pressure), or other similar services. This distinction is important because generally Medicare and most private health insurance pays only for skilled care–not custodial care.

There are only 3 ways to pay for this care: self pay (usually supported by spending down one's own assets), welfare (such as Medicaid for the indigent), or a qualified long term care insurance policy.  There are man different insurance options available to help protect oneself & loved ones from the high cost of care, which averages $84,000 per year nationally in a nursing home, and there is a high probability that if you live a long life, that you'll need care at some point.  Insurance policies are by far the most efficient method; the catch is that you have to be able to qualify.  Waiting until retirement will likely result in a high cost so it is wise to look into this between the ages of 50-60. 

Let us help educate you to make informed decisions about long term car & begin planning before it is too late.