Planning for long-term care is one of the most important issues that families will face and, because knowledge is power, we want you to be fully informed about this critically important topic. Lastly, and most importantly, Love is a verb and not a noun. Planning for long-term care has very little to do with you and everything to do with your family. Creating a plan could very well be one of the most loving things you ever do for your family. Make certain you and your family have a plan for Long Term Care.
What is long-term care?
Long Term Care is not necessarily medical care but rather “custodial care.” Custodial care involves providing an individual assistance with activities of daily living or supervision of someone who is cognitively impaired.
To better understand Long Term Care, think of the activities that you performed when you woke up this morning. You probably:
- Climbed out of bed
- Walked to the bathroom
- Used the toilet
- Used the bath or shower
- Got dressed
- Ate breakfast
While we are healthy it is easy for us to take for granted the above Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s). However, when you or a loved one is stricken with an injury or degenerative condition such as a stroke or Alzheimer’s, performing these ADL’s becomes impossible without the assistance of another person.
This type of care is Long Term Care. It is the same type of care that a parent must provide for their new baby. This type of care is chronic (full-time) and thus becomes very expensive. Long Term Care can be, and typically is, provided in many settings including nursing homes, your own home, assisted living facilities, adult day care and hospice.
