Research shows that two out of every three Americans will need some form of assistance with activities of daily living. These activities of daily living are defined as dressing, bathing, walking, and toileting. 

These activities of daily living could be impeded for an extended period of time or for a short term. Long-term care is often associated with nursing homes, but this is not the only way where the individuals can get support with care. In fact, the truth is that many people who need additional assistance get that care from home.

A long-term care plan is your big picture understanding of what you intend to happen in your retirement years and beyond in the event that you need long term care assistance. It is a common misconception that Medicare, the federal program that administers health care benefits for senior citizens, will step in to pay for long term care services on your behalf.

Medicare does not cover the vast majority of long-term care expenses and for those who do not have a long-term care insurance policy to support them, it falls to them to self-fund for their care. This can be especially overwhelming and confusing for those families that are approaching the long-term care crisis for the very first time. An elder law attorney or estate planning attorney can assist you with crafting a long-term care plan with your individual needs in mind.