Tag Archives: Long Term Care

In Wake of National Nursing Home Week, Understanding How to Choose a Long Term Care Facility Is As Important As Ever

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In light of National Nursing Home Week, which was celebrated May 11-17 this year, it seems prudent to discuss some current issues facing nursing homes across the state of Texas. Texas has had its fair share of negative light shone on nursing homes across the state, but two violent attacks in Houston’s long-term care facilities recently brought the subject back into the spotlight again.

Do Your Research on Nursing Homes

The brutal occurrences, which left two men dead and one critically injured, bring up yet again the issues of nursing home oversight, staffing levels, and the crucial importance of researching a nursing home before enrolling as a resident. When it comes to finding a good nursing home, looks can often be deceiving. Just because a facility looks nice on the outside, or maybe even on the inside, too, doesn’t mean there aren’t problems lurking below the surface. Unfortunately, some families find this out the hard way.

No matter how much research you do, it can be difficult to detect problems in nursing homes, but there are a few things you can do to help increase the chances that the facility you choose isn’t one of the bad apples. Whether it’s a lack of staff personnel or poor administrative oversight, some nursing homes face problems that can often pass down negative consequences to residents. Before you decide on a certain facility, make sure you take the time to look into various aspects of the facility to help you better understand the staff, administration, and quality of care provided.

Problems Facing Texas

Just last year, a nationwide Nursing Home Report Card was published and Texas ranked 51st, the absolute worst ranking possible. This ranking was based on a number of different measures including facility deficiencies, staff levels, and verified ombudsmen complaints. The report card, produced by a non-profit organization in Florida, highlights the extreme problems facing nursing homes across the state of Texas. The Lone Star state received a grade of F and was the only state to receive failing grades in 6 of the 8 measures.

According to the report, just over 94% of nursing home facilities in Texas have deficiencies and a little more than 16% were cited as having severe deficiencies. Texas also had the lowest percentage of nursing homes with an above-average direct care staff rating, with just 19.68% of nursing homes qualifying under that measure. Because nursing home quality has been shown to be poor across the entire state of Texas, it is especially important for Texans to understand the best ways to research nursing homes and compare different ones to find the best available.

How to Compare Long-Term Care Facilities

One way to gain some insider knowledge about the state of different nursing homes is to speak with your local long-term care ombudsman. Ombudsmen are individuals who volunteer to help investigate complaints surrounding nursing homes and work with local organizations to help rectify the problems. They provide free services to family members and individuals interested in long-term care. You can get in touch with your local ombudsman by contacting your local Area Agency on Aging, of which there are 28 in Texas.

Another way to compare nursing homes is to utilize the Nursing Home Compare online tool provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. US News and Health Report also publishes an annual nursing homes ranking list compiled using data from the CMS website and other sources. You can view this year’s ranking list of nursing homes here and navigate through the ones specifically in Texas.

Besides doing research online, in-person research is another crucial tool to helping you get a better grasp of what is happening in nursing homes across Texas or in your area. If you are able, visit the nursing home yourself and walk around all the different areas of the facility. It’s best to visit nursing homes a number of times on different days. For example, you might want to make two visits during the week, one in the morning or afternoon and one at night. It is wise to do the same thing again on the weekend to get a good feel of how the facility operates and whether or not it is a good fit for what you are looking for.

When it comes to long term care, there are extremely important things at stake, including the safety, health, and wellbeing of either you or your loved one. Before committing to a specific nursing home, do your best to research, visit, and compare nursing homes so you can find the best one.

Scathing New Report Reveals Texas Nursing Homes Lack Enforcement and Oversight and Recommends Closing Austin Facility

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Texas nursing homes are not being monitored enough and facilities with violations are not being properly penalized, according to a new report released by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

DADS Report

The Sunset Advisory Commission released the report earlier this month detailing issues found within the 13 state supported living centers in Texas and putting forth a number of recommendations for legislators. The report followed investigative coverage conducted by KVUE that revealed a rise in the prevalence of abuse in nursing homes across the state.

The DADS report notes a number of problems within the Texas state-supported living centers and includes detailed explanations of the problems and suggestions to help fix them. One of the main problems highlighted in the report is the fact that the nursing homes that have been found to have serious violations have suffered very little, if any, consequences as a result. Not only are the centers “problematic”, but they are also “costly” to the state, according to the authorities who compiled the report, which includes state senators and representatives.

Costs to Texas Taxpayers 

To house just 3,650 people in the 13 centers involves the employment of more than 13,900 individuals and a cost of more than $661.9 million annually to the state. Texas is one of the few states that still runs a large state-supported living center system, the report notes, and the costs to taxpayers are “growing unsustainably”. One facility in particular came under fire in the report.

Despite “questionable quality of care” at the living centers, the nursing homes have remained open and serving residents, some of whom may be suffering due to the potentially lacking care quality. Because the state can no longer afford to continue supporting all 13 living centers, as concluded by the commission members, they recommended closing the Austin state supported living center by the year 2017 and several others by 2022.

Quality Care Matters

There is no way for DADS to effectively ensure adequate care is being provided at these facilities, which presents a problem for both the state and the residents. The commission report recommends higher penalties against nursing homes that commit violations in order to bolster the quality of care provided and ensure the same mistakes are not repeated intentionally due to a lack of fear of consequence.

When it comes to choosing a long term care facility, it can be difficult to know which nursing homes will provide the quality care most people are looking for, but this new report helps Texas residents be more aware of the various problems facing these state supported systems. It’s important to remember that the report just includes recommendations, not final decisions, and a review of the report is currently being processed to determine which steps, if any, to take to further rectify the problems outlined in the report.

To see the full DADS report, click here. To get a better idea of how to choose a long term care facility, read our latest article on the state of nursing homes in Texas and the different ways to compare and research long term care facilities.

Plan Ahead for Long Term Care

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Have you considered what you will do if you ever suffer a bad fall or are diagnosed with dementia? If you need long term care, how will you pay for it?

Many people don’t think about this type of scenario early enough and are not financially prepared to pay the costs out of pocket when the time comes. The risk that you will need long term care is fairly high, and the risk only increases as you age.

Addressing the Cost

Long term care isn’t just reserved for severe injuries of illnesses, either. Many elderly people simply need help with getting around, preparing meals, and other daily tasks. The cost of an in-home caregiver is quite expensive, and though there is insurance to cover the cost of this type of care, few people have it.

Long term care insurance helps cover the  cost of long term care so you don’t end up paying the whole bill. Studies have shown that many people are concerned about the increasing cost of care at home, in assisted living facilities, and at nursing homes, but many also mistakenly believe the government pays for this type of care. That is not the case.

Medicare doesn’t pay for long term care unless you have suffered a serious injury and been hospitalized as an inpatient for at least 3 days. Even then, they only pay for a short period of care. Medicaid is the social insurance program for the poor and will only pay for long term care if you have already exhausted all of your financial assets. For those who do not want to give up all of their hard earned money simply to be cared for in old age, long term care insurance provides a way to bridge the gap.

Should You Buy?

Premiums depend on your age, health, the amount of coverage you choose, and if you are eligible for any discounts. Couples receive a discount of up to 40% of many policies, and applicants who are in good health often receive a discount, as well.

If you are above the age of 45, in good health, and have assets and a retirement nest egg to protect, you should consider buying long term care coverage. A study earlier this year found that the cost of care is increasing across all provider options. An annual cost of care report placed the cost of long term care in Texas at $61,320 for a private room in a nursing home for a year.

It’s important to apply for coverage before you are too old, because any medical issues will count against you in terms of qualifying. Just like a car insurance wouldn’t accept an application from someone who already had a wreck, long term care companies do not want to accept someone who is already sick and needs care. Looking into your options in your 50s will help you know what type of coverage you want, even if you don’t want to buy it right away.

Many adult children even consider buying this type of insurance for their aging parents. The issue of family caregiving in modern society continues to cause stress and tension as adults are often forced to leave their job or work and provide care in order to help their parent in their time of need. The AARP estimates that family caregivers provide a staggering $450 billion in unpaid care to loved ones every year. Long term care coverage can help shift the burden from families and let them focus on providing emotional support while professionals provide the necessary care.

Request more information about long term care insurance today and we will send you a personalized quote with a comparison of the top policies and providers in Texas.

Texas Drops in Senior Health Ranking

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Texas seniors face a myriad of health problems and are stuck with some of the worst nursing home quality in the nation, according to a recent report.

Texas Falls in Ranking

The United Health Foundation released their annual Senior Health Report that ranks each state based on the health and healthcare of seniors in that state. This year, Texas ranked 41st on the list, dropping 2 spots from their ranking of 39 last year in 2013. Though the United States pays more per capita for health care than any other country in the world, it seems the quality of care in our health care system is struggling to stay on par with the cost.

Despite the fact that Texas is often hailed as an ideal retirement spot for seniors, this report shines light on some of the drawbacks of the state’s senior health care system and helps expose some of the troubles those seniors are experiencing.

The Foundation used a number of various measures to determine each state’s ranking on the list including community support, home health care, obesity, poverty, cognition, food insecurity, depression. Texas fell even further to the bottom of the list this year and there are a few measures that stand out as noteworthy.

Lack of Senior Community

When it comes to community, Texan seniors don’t have much of one at all. According to the report, Texas ranks 49th in senior community and 48th in community support. This statistic may come as a surprise because of the number of seniors in Texas, but despite the growing demographic, the support system seems to be nearly nonexistent.

Texas came in at number 21 for diabetes management and 27 for depression, which isn’t the greatest ranking but isn’t near the bottom, either. Seniors with a chronic condition that requires pain management aren’t in a good spot, though. The Lone Star State ranked 42nd in pain management of all the 50 states. On top of that, the state also ranked 42nd in multiple chronic conditions, meaning there is a great deal of seniors who are suffering from more than one chronic disease, be it heart disease, diabetes, dementia, stroke, or cancer.

As the prevalence of dementia increases across the nation, Texas remains at the bottom of the list in terms of cognition, ranking 41st. In terms of overall senior health, the health status of seniors in Texas was ranked as 31st in the nation.

Long Term Care in Texas

It isn’t all about individual health, though. Long term care settings also have a huge impact on the collective senior health and how seniors can navigate their health care system. Unfortunately, Texas ranks 29th in nursing home quality, meaning they have almost the worst quality of nursing homes in the whole country.

On the other hand, though, Texas ranks at the top of the list in terms of home health care, at number 5. So while the quality of skilled nursing facilities is extraordinarily poor, the quality of home health care, a common and often preferred alternative, is quite high.

One big change that occurred within the last year in Texas is the prevalence of smokers. Smoking increased a shocking 10% in the past year alone. The state ranks 34th for smoking. Another more positive change is an increased use in hospice care and a drop in the number of seniors dying in the hospital, which means better care is being paid to these individuals who are int heir last days. Rather than die in a hospital, they pass in a more comfortable setting that is meant for end of life care. While this may seem inconsequential to some, this is actually extraordinarily important to a lot of seniors.

Challenges Facing Lone Star Seniors

The state of Texas faces a number of big challenges: there is a high percentage of seniors struggling in poverty, the quality of nursing home care is low, and the prevalence of food insecurity is high. But the availability of home health care workers is good, which is a positive sign for seniors in the state. As the number of seniors continues to grow across the nation, senior health care is moving to the forefront of priorities. Long term care is becoming a talked about topic as people begin to recognize the importance of planning for a long life and ensuring they aren’t forced into a poor quality nursing home.

Texans have a number of options to help plan for long term care and for those with assets to protect, Long Term Care Insurance is a wise one. A policy can help provide you with either home care or nursing home care and help you avoid spending yourself into poverty. Find out more about Long Term Care Insurance here or fill out this form to request a free quote today.

To read the full Senior Health Report, click here or read our take on last year’s report here.

Long Term Care Insurance: Mutual of Omaha

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If you’re looking for long term care insurance, Mutual of Omaha has just what you need. Many people are thinking long term and therefore want to protect themselves in the case their income is too high to qualify for Medicaid or Medicare. This prevents the need to rely on your loved ones to support you and cover all expenses as you age.

Protecting Your Assets

With long term care insurance, Mutual of Omaha offers a number of programs available to suit your needs. Whether you need life insurance or disability insurance, you will find a plan and program to suit your needs. You can qualify for home health care in addition to nursing home/assisted living care, and there are also programs that are designed to keep you at home and out of these facilities. We all enjoy being independent, and insurance can help with expenses.

Why is Coverage Needed?

Many are not aware of  the benefits of long term care insurance, and one of the main advantages is you remain independent while receiving the quality care you want and deserve. You can avoid asking family or your children to help with finances or expenses due to not having the money. If you have savings, long term care insurance can help you hang onto that money in case you plan on passing it down.

Long term care insurance Mutual of Omaha offers allows you to have the option to obtain your plan’s benefits in the form of cash or you can opt to have your policy reimbursed for any other expenses you may incur while receiving care. Many find they need some sort of help with medical care as they get older such as with simple day to day tasks.

Purchasing Long Term Care That’s Suitable for You

What you’ll find is there are a number of plans offered with Mutual of Omaha which allows you to have financial security. What is suitable for you may be different for someone else. If you need more coverage your plan will get you care you need at home. You can also customize a policy with several other options that you can purchase to make your package work even more for you.

Many people opt for a long term insurance plan to help leave something to their children. Many people work hard their entire life to build their nest egg and many want to leave something to their grandchildren or children. An insurance plan can help preserve an estate that you want to have passed down.

While this form of insurance is still new to the insurance market, there are a number of people that have seen the many benefits. Many people are taking the time to learn how this type of insurance coverage can help them plan for the future to ensure they have adequate care and can live their life to the fullest. Research is important when choosing a company, and Mutual of Omaha has dedicated centuries to offering adequate coverage even for those on a budget.

Caregivers United Event Planned for June in San Angelo


A Caregivers United event in San Angelo Texas planned for mid-June aims to help Texans better understand the issues surrounding long term care and caregivers in the industry.

Event Details

The event is being held by the Area Agency on Aging and will take place at 11:45 a.m. June 13 at the Concho Valley Council of Governments Training Center. The Training Center is located at 2801 W. Loop 306.

Event seating is limited to 40. To RSVP, call 3252235704 or visit cvcog.org/cvcog/aaa_caregivers_united_reg.php

Topics of Discussion

Brittany Schroeder, Better Living for Texans Extension assistant at Texas A&M AgriLife, will speak on “Dining at the Dollar Store.”

According to its website, “Better Living for Texans (BLT) is a statewide nutrition education program that serves 217 of the 254 counties in the state of Texas. Since 1994, BLT has served the state’s residents through teaching nutrition-related concepts focusing on comparing prices, healthy menu choices, MyPlate, preparing healthy meals, and the importance of physical fitness”.

Background

The Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is one of 28 local agencies in Texas that is included in the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). The goal of the agencies is to provide seniors, specifically people ages 60 and older, and their caregivers with the information they need to find local resources and assistance.

Caregivers United is an organization created by Frank Broyles, a man who was impacted by Alzheimer’s when his wife was diagnosed with the disease. Their website states that they “are a dedicated group of caregivers who have come together to help bring support, stories, tips and more to the online community.”

The Issue of Caregiving 

80% of long term care received around the nation is unpaid care. This means that the majority of caregivers in the United States are simply family members or friends of loved ones who have come down with a debilitating condition like a stroke, Alzheimer’s, or obesity. When someone requires help with daily activities like eating, cooking, bathing, or getting around, the services provided to them are considered long term care services.

Long Term Care Insurance helps cover the costs of these long term care services, so your family is not burdened even more by the high price of long term care. Long Term Care Insurance will even cover services provided in your home, as long as the care is provided by a licensed health professional. Take the burden off of your children and invest in Long Term Care Insurance. If you have substantial assets to protect, buying a Long Term Care Insurance policy is a sensible financial move. Read more about who should buy LTCI and why.

Texans Can Benefit from Long Term Care Partnership Program

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Have you devised a plan to pay for your health care costs in retirement? If you live in Texas, did you know that just one year of nursing home care costs more than $65,000? Are you prepared to cover that kind of cost should you suddenly need care? If not, a program exists in your state to help you plan.

Help Planning for Long Term Care

The Texas Long Term Care Partnership Program helps encourage long term care planning across the state of Texas. Long term care is becoming an especially important issue in our nation as we are living longer than ever and health care is becoming more advanced every year. Couple this changes and we are faced with individuals living with disabilities and chronic diseases that would have essentially been their demise had they been seniors just a few short decades ago. Now, however, people can live longer even with chronic illness. Many times, though, they require some type of extended care for that situation.

The cost of health care in retirement isn’t something to be taken lightly. A Fidelity study conducted last year found that the average 65-year-old couple retiring in 2013 will need $220,000 to cover their combined health care expenses during retirement. The most frightening part about this statistic? It doesn’t include the cost of long term care, which as you may know, can be astronomical.

Avoiding Financial Burden

Nursing home care isn’t the only huge cost that comes with long term care. Assisted living facilities are quite costly, too, averaging more than $42,000 for a year of care in Texas. Home health care costs about the same. If you haven’t developed a plan to cover these costs, you may be stuck on your own when the time comes that you need assistance. Instead of waiting to plan until you actually need care, taking the time to plan in advance can save you money and an emotional headache.

By planning ahead for the cost of care, you can help eliminate the chance that you will be forced to pay for care out of pocket or turn to a loved one to rely on for unpaid care. Instead, you can actually help create a separate pool of money that will cover the cost of care by purchasing Long Term Care Insurance.

Long Term Care Insurance shields your assets from the high (and growing) cost of care by establishing a new reserve of finances that are designated specifically for long term care. In Texas, residents can benefit from the Texas Long Term Care Partnership Program, too.

Long Term Care Partnership Program

The Texas Long Term Care Partnership Program is a joint partnership between private Long Term Care Insurance companies and the state of Texas. By joining together, they have created policies to help people plan on their own, but providing a safety net in case their planning isn’t enough.

If you purchase a Partnership eligible Long Term Care Insurance plan, you can qualify for a Medicaid spend down waiver if you were to use all the benefits of your policy and still need care. The partnership promotes self-responsibility among Texans, which helps reduce some of the financial burden on the state and encourage people to plan for themselves. If your policy doesn’t last long enough, though, the state will allow you to qualify for Medicaid long term care services without having to deplete all your assets.

The Partnership Program provides some intangible benefits that can help you out in a time of need. Because Long Term Care Insurance is a sensible tool for retirement, anyway, it makes sense to buy a plan that qualifies for the Texas Partnership Program. If you have questions about which plans are Partnership eligible, be sure to ask your agent.

If you are in the market for Long Term Care Insurance, we will be glad to help you navigate your different options and send you information on the top rated companies for you to review on your own time. Request a free quote today to learn more about the Partnership Program.

A Position of Leadership Within the Long Term Care Insurance Industry

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As the Long Term Care Insurance goes through some changes in the next few years, just as it has for the past few years, it’s important to have leaders within the industry to help forge the optimal path for consumers and providers.

Genworth Financial is currently taking up that role and looking to help any one interested in Long Term Care Insurance get educated and become aware of their options to help plan for the future.

Educating About the Risk

Long Term Care Insurance is a great tool for any one looking to enhance their retirement portfolio and protect their hard-earned assets from the potentially devastating and constantly increasing cost of long term care.

This type of insurance is often not considered until it’s too late, and as the need for long term care grows, it becomes apparent that a great deal more people could benefit from these policies if only they knew about them when they were younger and able to buy.

President and CEO Tom McInerney has been speaking out about Genworth’s new approach to Long Term Care Insurance and the carrier’s recently revealed 3 part strategy to help manage policies better in the future. He seems enthusiastic about the future of the company within this specific market and touts Genworth as a helpful resource for regulators, consumers, and public policymakers.

Years of Experience

Genworth has been in the Long Term Care Insurance industry since it began in the early 70s and as McInerney put it, no one in the industry knows Long Term Care Insurance as well as Genworth does. The provider has insured more than 1 million clients and paid out more than 190,000 claims, which has totaled nearly $10 billion in paid benefits.

The carrier publishes a Cost of Care Report annually, which details the growing cost of long term care and helps put into perspective just how expensive it can really be and how common the need for care is. McInerney says he wants Genworth to make Long Term Care Insurance a better and more relevant industry so more individuals can finance their long term care needs and protect their retirement nest egg.

Learn more about planning for long term care or request a free personalized quote comparison of the top providers today.

Long Term Care in Texas Costs How Much?

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Living a long life isn’t an uncommon desire; in fact, it’s quite common to hear someone say they want to live to 100 years old (or even older!). With a long life come certain changes, though. Long term care is one of them. If you are planning to live a long life, you must also be prepared for the high financial risk that long term care poses.

Genworth Financial recently published their 2014 Cost of Care Survey, which details just how expensive long term care is across the country, including Texas, and helps consumers plan for that cost.

Long Term Care in Texas

Long term care refers to services received in a variety of settings like a nursing home, assisted living facility, adult day care, and even at home from a home health aide. As life spans in the United States continue to rise and the cost of health care goes up with it, planning for the cost of long term care makes a great deal of sense when it comes to retirement planning.

Planning your retirement won’t do any good if you are suddenly injured or diagnosed with an illness that requires expensive care for an extended period of time. Fortunately, here in Texas, long term care is cheaper than the national average, but chances are the price tags will still shock you.

Cost Across Care Settings

The median annual cost of a home health aide in Texas is $41,184. Home health aides are nurses or health professionals that provide long term care in the comfort of your home. When asked, most people express that they would prefer this type of care over facility care. This number has seen a 1% growth rate over the past 5 years and is about $4,000 lower than the national median cost.

Adult day care facilities, which are public centers where adults can be dropped off for the day, typically during business hours, have a median annual cost of $8,970 in Texas. The cost of adult day care services in Texas has increased 3% in the past 5 years, but is still about half of the national median cost.

Assisted living facilities, another commonly preferred care setting, have seen a 5% growth rate in the past 5 years in Texas. Assisted living facilities provide long term care but in a more independent setting than a nursing home. They are often similar to apartment complexes, but have medical personnel on staff in case of any emergencies. The median annual cost of a single room in an assisted living facility in Texas is $42,270, which is less than $300 higher than the national median cost.

Nursing homes are usually the least preferred care setting but the most necessary for those with severe health problems. They are also the most expensive form of long term care. A private room in a nursing home in Texas will cost you an average of $65,700. This number is significantly lower than the national median cost of $87,600. Similarly, the cost of a semi-private room in Texas will cost an average of $50,735, compared to the national average of $77,380.

Less than Average

All in all, long term care in Texas is usually less expensive than the national average, but it varies from city to city and facility to facility. The important thing to remember about the high cost of long term care is most people can’t cover the cost on their own. Because health insurance and Medicare won’t cover it, either, it’s crucial to implement a plan to prepare for the potential cost. Long Term Care Insurance is a great way to do just that.

Long Term Care Insurance helps you plan for the cost of long term care without having to save up hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets. Instead, you transfer the financial risk to the insurance company and just pay regular premiums, which pale in comparison to the full cost of care. Buying Long Term Care Insurance shouldn’t be a last minute decision, though, so be sure to do your research and buy as early as possible to get the best rates.

View the full Cost of Care Survey here or request a free Long Term Care Insurance quote today.

9 in 10 Long Term Care Patients Use Family Caregivers

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As the need for long term care grows across the nation, so too does the need for caregivers.

Family Caregivers

When you need care for an extended period of time, you may be faced with a decision of where to receive care and how to pay for it. If you have long term care insurance, your policy will help you cover the cost of care and even help you choose a facility or licensed caregiver in your area. If you don’t have insurance, though, you may need to consider other options.

Unfortunately, because so few Americans are prepared for the extensive and expensive health care bills that arise during retirement, many end up turning to family caregivers in their time of need. Rather than pay the full out of pocket cost for a facility, a family caregiver is free, lessening the financial burden on what otherwise might wipe out your retirement savings.

Family caregiving has become the norm, and though it may be affordable, it places an extreme burden on the families, caregivers, and patients alike. Emotional stress can cause tension between family members who are trying to decide the best way to provide care. Families often disagree on the method of providing care and without a neutral voice there to help guide the situation, it can cause rifts within a family.

Huge Costs 

A recent PBS article revealed that 9 in 10 Americans receiving some form of long term care receive that care from a family member or other loved one. Nearly three quarters of those caregivers provide care for their elderly parents.

The Congressional Budget Office places the value of this unpaid care at more than $234 billion in 2012. Another similar statistic placed the value of care in 2008 at an even higher cost of $450 billion. This massive gap in the ability to fund care indicates a major lack of planning on the part of most Americans.

The assumption that Medicare will pay for long term care is one of the issues contributing to this epidemic of unpaid caregivers, because many are caught off guard when they are told Medicare does not, in fact, pay for long term care.

Retirement Plan

Part of your retirement plan should include an allocation for long term care or a long term care insurance policy to help you cover the cost down the road. Sales of long term care insurance seem to be on the decline, even though the number of people who need long term care is expected to triple in the next few decades.

Planning for this type of extended care will help ensure you do not have to burden family members and you will receive top quality care from a licensed caregiver with experience. Read more about long term care planning or request more information about long term care insurance now.