Denton County Living Well Magazine Summer 2015 | Page 26

Are You Prepared For Long Term Care?
Courtesy Rambling Oaks Courtyard Assisted Living Residence

A

re you nearing retirement? Chances are you’ve
probably spent countless hours planning for this
moment, but how much thought have you allocated
to your long term care needs? Long term care is a spectrum
of services and supports available to meet your personal care
needs. Most of this care is not medical, but rather it is assistance with simple, personal tasks an individual performs on
a daily basis, also known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).
These can include bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring,
managing incontinence, and eating. Additional everyday
tasks can also include housekeeping, money management,
medication management, meal preparation, shopping, and
emergency preparedness.
Many people assume they’ll never be afflicted by conditions
that keep them from living independently, such as dementia,
COPD, or rheumatoid arthritis. The truth is that such conditions are diagnosed every day among the senior population
and the costs associated with the additional long term care
required to meet these personal care needs can be expensive.
The cost of long term care depends on several factors including the type of care needed as well as the duration, the

provider you use, and where you live. Additionally, the cost
can be affected by certain factors such as time of day and
variable rates in some community programs.
Investing in a Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance Policy may
be a viable solution. LTC policy premiums are typically
based on one’s age and health at the time of application;
therefore, it is usually recommended to invest in a plan
long before such benefits are needed. The average age
of a person who buys long term care insurance today is
about 60.
Most policies on the market today are comprehensive.
They typically allow you to use your benefits in an array
of settings including your home, adult day service centers,
assisted living facilities, Alzheimer’s facilities, and nursing
homes. In the home setting, comprehensive policies generally cover skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, and
help with personal care like bathing and dressing.

Start thinking about how you will handle your need
for long term care. Long Term Care Insurance may
be something you should consider.

Highland Village & Frisco *
Extensive Care Community Services (ECC)
• Skilled Nursing Care provided
by Licensed Nurses 24 Hours per day
• Onsite Therapy including: Physical Thera K