Long-term care services will be a major issue for the parents of baby boomers who are now in their 70's or 80's and who will likely face many of the issues mentioned. Further, baby boomers will need to plan for their long-term care needs as well.

Key areas to consider when planning for your future:

• Communicate with family and friends


• Compare and understand long-term care insurance options


• Decide who you can count on for help


• Establish clear legal directions


• Focus on your finances


• Learn what your community has to offer


• Make necessary home improvements


• Take control over your health and personal needs


• Refer to the links and resources page within this site

Other areas to think about when planning for long-term care needs:

• Look into what the cost would be if you ever needed nursing home or assisted living care.



• Talk with your spouse, adult children, friends, and siblings about whether they would want to or be able to care for you if you became ill or disabled for a long period on time. Tell them how you feel about relying on them for help.
  
  
• Consider alternative living options available to you:
  
  
• Moving in with family.
• Moving into an assisted living center, retirement community, or continuing care communit.y
• Living in an easier-to-care-for apartment or home.
• Modifying your existing home to make it easier to get around and to care for.
  
  
• Visit with a financial planner, insurance agent, attorney or other financial advisor about how you would pay for long-term care services if you needed them.



• Think about how much your current income and assets you could afford to set aside to pay for long-term care expenses if you needed them.



• Review in detail you current health care insurance to understand whether it would pay for your care if you happened to need nursing home services.



• Set aside funds to pay for long-term care if you needed it and do so in a way that you won't use these funds for anything else until certain you won't need long-term care. This might include a medical IRA, long-term care annuity, purchasing long-term care insurance, reverse annuity mortgage, etc.
  
  
• Discuss with your doctor whether you might be at risk for needing long-term care someday based on your medical and family history, lifestyle, etc.



• Read a guide about planning for long-term care or buying long-term care insurance.
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