We suggest that you first determine who you will talk with to put a plan together, and also, who will be the most likely people involved in providing care. Family members and friends are often involved in both planning and implementation.
We also suggest consulting with attorneys, CPA's, long-term care insurance specialists and other professionals. This guide will aid in determining when and if these people should be included in the planning process.
Selecting who will actually provide care for you is more challenging because of a variety of unknowns. Life does have a way of bringing us the unexpected! Family members and friends can sometimes help you with personal activities. Other people prefer to hire caregivers or get help from volunteers and/or agencies.
One of the advantages of getting help from your family for long-term care needs is that it may lower the cost. If a family member appears to be a good option, it is still important to consider finances, however. If your condition were to require 24 hour care and observation, as is the case with dementia, then hiring someone to take on an 8 hour shift could make all the difference in the burden placed on the primary caregiver. This is particularly true if that person is a spouse or someone else of similar age as you.
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"After we spoke with our children, I felt better knowing that I can count on them to help us with decisions and planning for long-term care." |
Steps you can take now
Talk to your family members about long-term care. Share your concerns and preferences, where you may want to live and any medical history which may be important in making decisions.
Think about sharing your home with someone or a group of people in the future.
Contact the American Health Care Association for more information on how to talk with your family and friends about long-term care at 1-800-628-8140 or www.ahca.org.
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