FAQ' Long Term Care
What is Long-Term Care? This includes home health care, assisted living, adult daycare. and nursing home care as well as levels of care which may exist in the future that is not seen today.
Who needs this care or what kinds of health conditions apply?
How expensive is such care? Most care is provided in one's home and most patients prefer to remain there rather than move to a facility. In-home care provided by licensed providers is generally $30 an hour or more in California, including salaries, benefits, insurance, etc. One may need care a few hours a week or around the clock every day. This can mean over $20,000 monthly for an individual. Assisted living facilities generally start at about $4000 a month and nursing home care is likely to cost closer to $10,000 monthly.
How likely is one to need care and how long might it be needed? We're all a statistic of one. You'll either need care or you won't. Perhaps a family member may provide such care. Many, when given the choice, would prefer to manage a loved one's care rather than provide it. About 7% of those who reach 65 will need some assistance. Three in 10 men in their 90's have dementia or Alzheimers and two of 10 women.
We know people who have required care for over 10 years at a cost way in excess of a million dollars. Others may need help for a short time, of course. A couple with an $8000 monthly income and regular expenses of $7000, not including taxes, would burn through $100,000 of assets in a year with care costs of $10,000 monthly. In 10 years from now, these may seem like low numbers.
Who provides care
Gov't little, medicare 2%
activs of daily living
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Using the toilet
- Transferring (moving short-range from one position to another, like from a bed to a chair)
- Incontinence
- Eating and drinking