As people get older, the likelihood is that they will require more attention and care. It’s just a fact of life that illnesses and diseases tend to develop later in life, which means that the elderly often need medical care and support.
One of the things you can do to protect yourself as you age is to make sure you plan for your long-term care needs. Long-term care may include many different services that are designed to meet your personal care needs after an injury or as you age. Part of that long-term care may include a plan for in-home aid.
Should you include in-home aid in your long-term care plan?
If you are making a long-term care plan, then it is a good idea to add in-home aid if you would like to stay in your home. For example, if you develop Alzheimer’s disease or a form of dementia, would you like to stay in your home or go to a nursing home or assisted-living facility? Sit down and think about your goals, so you can decide if you’d like to include in-home aid.
If you do, you may want to set up a long-term care insurance policy or add money to a trust to put it aside for in-home aids. Some in-home care may be provided through your medical insurance, as well, so it’s a good idea to review that and to include any pertinent information in your estate plan for your executor and health care proxy should it be needed. If you need more information and support, your attorney will walk you through different long-term care options that would be good for your estate plan.