The When, Where, and How of Long-Term Care: Making A Very Difficult And Emotional Decision A Little Easier
June 15, 2020
Mary saw her husband’s deterioration for several years. He had been a successful accountant and an avid golfer who could quickly tally scores in his head. But she began to notice problems. He couldn’t figure out what percentage the tip should be when they went out to eat. He would lose his thought process and break off in mid-sentence. Eventually he couldn’t even remember the number of grandchildren they had. She spent more time taking care of him, and eventually bringing in a homecare worker a few days a week. But even that eventually became too much. “I realized for his health and mine – plus my own ability to enjoy a quality of life - it was time I found a nursing home for him,” Mary says.
Whether it’s you or a family member who needs long-term care, it is one of the toughest decisions we might ever have to make. An estimated 47% of men and 58% of women 65 and older will need long-term care during their lifetimes. Determining the “when” for long-term care is hard enough, but even tougher can be the “where” and “how”.
For the first question, Families For Better Care (FFBC) can help. FFBC is a non-profit that advocates for public awareness of the conditions in our nation’s nursing homes and other long-term care settings. They also develop solutions and work to improve quality of life and care for residents. More than ever, especially in the wake of COVID-19, people need to feel the place they or their loved one live is safe and high-quality.
Families For Better Care has developed a Nursing Home Report Card. “The Report Card is a very special project for us,” says Brian Lee, Executive Director of Families for Better Care. “It analyzes, compares, and ranks nursing home quality by state. Our Report Card’s intent is to advocate for better care for our loved ones. The best way to make smart decisions is to go into the process armed with the facts.” Want to see how your own state ranks? Visit http://familiesforbettercare.com/index.php/report-cards
The other important question? “How.” One of the most difficult retirement plan problems for many adults is long-term care costs later in life. Fortunately, AMBA has insurance plans designed to cover long-term care while also protecting your retirement savings. Ask a skilled AMBA agent if a long-term care policy is right for you. Visit https://amba-review.com.
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