As you age, one of the most important things for you to do is to establish a long-term care plan. A long-term care plan will give more information on how you want your care managed as you get older and need more assistance in your life.
Many people assume that they’ll go to a nursing home if they are unwell enough or that their loved ones will care for them. It’s best never to assume, however. Once you are no longer able to make your own decisions, you may not have much control over the situation without a long-term care plan in place.
With your long-term care plan, you may be able to accomplish several different goals. First, you can give your loved one clear direction regarding your wishes in your declining years, which may ease the burden of any uncertainty on their part. Second, you can decide how to fund your care and make provisions to create a trust, acquire insurance and so on — long before that money is needed.
Long-term care planning can also give more information on when you would like to move from your home into an assisted-living or nursing home, so your loved ones have a better idea of how you’d like to move forward. While you’re able, you may even want to tour some nursing homes or assisted-living facilities and decide which one you’d like to live in, should that day come.
A long-term care plan has many benefits and features that are there to support you. Our website has more on what you should do to plan for your care as you get older. Having a good plan in place will help you overcome those challenges as they arise.