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• What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care

• More information on long-term care

Most of us want to remain independent and in our own homes for as long as possible. But that isn't always possible. That's why you need a plan for long-term care — and how to pay for it.

Long-term care doesn't necessarily mean a nursing home. Other possible options include community services, home health care, or assisted living. For instance, a person who can't make it out to the grocery store might get community-based "meals on wheels." Someone who needs help with daily activities but wants to stay at home might have part- or full-time home health care aides come in. Other options are retirement and assisted-living communities.

Most of these options cost a lot of money. And regular insurance plans and Medicare don't usually cover these costs. Medicaid pays for long-term care, but only after you have used most of your money and assets.

Another option is long-term care insurance, which covers some, but not all, of the costs of a variety of long-term care services should you need them. These policies can be expensive, but are a good option for some people. People more likely to need long-term care services include:

• Older people
• People who are single or live alone
• Women
• People who have, or have risk factors for, chronic diseases or disabilities

According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the best time to buy these policies is middle age. The premiums will be cheaper, and you are more likely to be eligible for a policy. The Affordable Care Act (health care reform) includes plans to create a voluntary long-term care insurance program that is affordable to older adults and people with disabilities.

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More information on long-term care

Explore other publications and websites

• Age Page: Getting Your Affairs in Order — This brochure discusses the steps you can take to prepare for the future. In addition, it includes information about important legal documents such as wills and trusts, advanced directives, power of attorney, and living wills.
  http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/affairs.asp
• BenefitsCheckUp (Copyright © National Council on Aging) — BenefitsCheckUp is a useful website for caregivers, older adults, and people with disabilities. This resources helps individuals reduce their prescription costs and save money on their medications by calculating entered information by the website user.
  http://www.benefitscheckup.org/link/caregiving
• Dollars and Sense — Paying for Aging Services (Copyright © American Association of Homes and Serives for the Aging) — This publication gives an overview of long-term care insurance, Medicaid, and the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
  http://www.aahsa.org/article.aspx?id=654
• Steps to Choosing Long-Term Care — This Internet page is a guide to help Medicare beneficiaries choose a long-term care facility for quality care.
  http://www.medicare.gov/LongTermCare/Static/StepsOverview.asp

Connect with other organizations

• Administration on Aging, HHS
  http://www.aoa.gov
• American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
  http://www.aarp.org/
• Caring Connections
  http://www.caringinfo.org/
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, HHS
  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/default.asp?
• National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information, AOA, HHS
  http://www.longtermcare.gov/LTC/Main_Site/index.aspx
• National Senior Citizens Law Center
  http://www.nsclc.org/
• The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging
  http://www.healthinaging.org/
• U.S. Social Security Administration
  http://www.ssa.gov/

Content last updated August 12, 2010.

Resources last updated August 12, 2010.

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