With Baby Boomers beginning to reach age 65, the topic of
long term care is drawing increasing attention. Unfortunately, long term care
is often misunderstood and, as a result, is poorly planned for, if at all.
Long term care refers to a range of services from home
health care, to assisted living, to skilled nursing homes. These nursing homes
provide assistance and support to manage and meet personal and health needs. Long
term care does not always refer to medical care, it may simply be to
provide assistance with “Activities for Daily Living”, or ADLs, including
eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, or continence. Long term care
may be needed for weeks, months or years.
Recent estimates predict that 50% of Americans will need
some type of long term care during their lifetime. For couples over age 65, the
statistics indicate there is a 70% chance one partner will need long term care.*
