Long-term care planning is something you may need to do for your parents or yourself. It is about helping you to stay independent while also staying safe as you age.
When the time comes that you can no longer live on your own safely, you will need long-term care. Planning ahead of time can ensure you have your wishes in place. The National Institute on Aging explains you will need to consider where you will receive care and what care you wish to receive.
Where to receive care
Long-term care planning often revolves around securing your place in a facility, such as a nursing home or assisted living home. It can also be a plan to keep you in your home. You need to decide what is best for your situation.
Determine if you want to leave your home. If you do, think about how long you would want to be away. You may not know if you will have the ability to stay in your home, so you should have backup plans in place as well.
Type of care
The type of care you will need can be difficult to plan since you will not know what you need until the time comes. However, you can plan for different situations. For example, if you have a short-term health condition, you can decide if you want a home health nurse to come to help you in your home or if you would prefer to go to an assisted care facility.
The main focus of long-term care planning is to figure out what you want to happen. You can determine what you may need and how you can get it through developing this plan.
