Long Term Care is the term used to describe the physical care an individual needs when he or she has become unable, or needs a lot of help, in taking care of at least 2 of the basic activities of daily life (ADL’s). These basic activities include being unable to, or needing help with, the following:

ADL also refers to care needed due to the physical conditions of incontinence and bowel control and the various needs involved with caring for a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

While no one wants to look forward to needing help, denying the probability of it is just not realistic. You probably know of people in your family or in your community who have needed care and you have may heard all kinds of statistics that sound pretty scary. It is true that nearly 50% of a population will need some kind of long-term assistance. In folks over the age of 65, 43% may spend some time in a nursing home. But just a very small percentage of those will spend their last days in a nursing home. That is why it is important to face the fact that Long Term Care is a family issue. Your family will take care of you. Over 70% of care is provided by families (children, spouses,grandchildren…) That may sound reassuring, but, Long Term Care rarely brings families together – it actually tears them apart. Jobs have to be given up, the time normally spent raising children may have to be dedicated to taking care of you. Financial realities often stretch resources to the breaking point. And the idea that your spouse will be physically able to handle your care is really not practical. So what are you to do? Plan ahead now.

 

 

Additional Reading - When a Million Dollars May Not Be Enough