Remember when your children were little, and they came down with the flu? You lovingly nursed them back to health. You cared for them through colds, the measles, and chicken pox. You kissed their boo-boos and bandaged scraped knees. After all, that’s what parents do.
Today your children are grown, probably married with families of their own. They may have professional careers that took years to establish or may juggle domestic responsibilities with their children’s extracurricular activities. You also know firsthand that married couples need time alone to nurture their relationship. Regardless of their age, you only wish the best for your children. After all, that’s what parents do.
Deteriorating Health
Meanwhile, your youth is behind you, and your health may be deteriorating. It may be getting harder to get in and out of the bath, prepare your own meals, or put your shoes on. It may be getting difficult to rise from a chair or remember to take your medications on schedule. Someday soon, you may need help with such activities. So, what’s your plan?
Perhaps you think your adult children can care for you. They will probably be more than willing to help out, but what happens if medical care is needed or you are no longer able to live independently? If you don’t have a plan for long-term care, your adult children may need to assume the role of unpaid caregiver.
In fact, between 30 and 38 million unpaid caregivers, typically adult children, now provide the majority of long-term care service and support to their loved ones, according to a report from AARP (June 2007).
What’s more, the report showed that about 92 percent of those with the most caregiving responsibilities had to change their work schedules. More than 37 percent went from full-time to part-time employment, and 35 percent gave up work entirely.
A Long-Term Plan
Planning for your future with long-term care insurance (LTCI) can provide options to meet your needs in terms of safety and well-being while allowing your adult children to live their own lives. If you are considering LTCI, don’t wait until an illness or injury forces you to make a hasty decision. Take the time now to consider your options.
The purpose of the majority of long-term care (LTC) plans is to assist people by offering support services for the activities of daily living (ADL). ADLs refer to tasks such as dressing, bathing, eating, transferring, and toileting.
LTC can be provided at home, in a community setting, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. LTC services can range from scheduled help at home to full-time care in a nursing home. A home health care aide, for example, can help with weekly shopping or daily tasks, such as bathing and dressing, which may be difficult to accomplish without assistance. Knowing that someone is there to help can relieve stress for you and your children.
Plan for your future today so that your children can care about you, rather than for you. After all, that’s what parents do.