No one wants to think about a time when they might need long-term care. So

planning ahead for this possibility often gets put off.

Most people first learn about long-term care when they or a loved one need

care. Then their options are often limited by lack of information, the immediate

need for services, and insufficient resources to pay for preferred services.

Planning ahead allows you to have more control over your future.

Why Plan Ahead for Long-Term Care?

Planning ahead for long-term care is important because there is a good chance

you will need some long-term care services if you live beyond the age of 65.

About 70 percent of people over age 65 require some services, and the likelihood

of needing care increases as you age.

Planning ahead helps you understand what service options are available in

your community, what special conditions may apply for receiving services, for

example, age or other eligibility criteria, what services cost, and what payment

options -- public and private -- apply. Having this information helps ensure you

will have a range of options when you need long-term care, and makes it more

likely that you will have more choice and control over where and how you receive

services.

Planning ahead is important because the cost of long-term care services often

exceeds what the average person can pay from income and other resources. By

planning ahead, you may be able to save your assets and income for uses other

than long-term care, including preserving the quality of life for your spouse or

other loved ones. With planning, there is a greater likelihood of being able to

leave an estate to your heirs, because you are less likely to use up your

financial resources paying for care.

Planning ahead also means less emotional and financial stress on you and your

family. It can provide a way to involve your family in decisions without

depending on them to bear the entire burden alone.

Finally, for many people, one of the most important advantages of planning

ahead is to ensure greater independence should you need care. Your choices for

receiving care outside of a facility and being able to stay at home or receive

services in the community for as long as possible are greater if you have

planned ahead.

Why People Don't Plan Ahead

There are many reasons why people don't plan ahead for long-term care. These

include the natural tendency to avoid thinking about becoming dependent on

others for your care, misinformation about the risks of needing care, and lack

of knowledge about the cost of care and payment options.

Most people don't like to think about getting older, developing a disability,

becoming less independent, or needing help with personal care. Many people don't

realize that their chance of needing long-term care by the time they turn 65 is

as high as 70 percent.

People commonly misunderstand how expensive long-term care is, and how it is

paid for. Consumer surveys have shown that many individuals don't realize that

health insurance, Medicare, and/or disability coverage do not pay for most

long-term care services. Medicaid pays for some long-term care services, but

only if you qualify for the program because you have limited income and

financial resources.

Some people find it too difficult to raise these subjects with their loved

ones, making it difficult to explore and define their plans. Adult children

often feel like they are patronizing their parents if they raise the subject or

they are afraid of giving the impression that they might not want to provide

care if it is needed. Parents often don't want to make adult children

uncomfortable or to discuss details of their finances with them.