For about 25 years, I’ve been telling people assisted living is a better solution if there’s a late in life, chronic need for long-term care.
As you can imagine, I’ve met with a lot of resistance about this over the years. This feels like a very emotional decision to leave the “independence” of living in your own home and opting to live in an assisted living facility. However, if you take the time to look at the facts, you’ll understand my position. To fully understand the decision requires the ability to fearlessly envision a time when they are no longer strong, active and independent. And that time is coming for most of us.
A new study backs me up on this. Vindication is a lovely feeling!
The Preference for Assisted Living
A new poll conducted by Key Private Bank was reported on by McKnight’s Senior Living. Of those polled, the conclusion is that if older adults are independent and able to remain at home, that is their natural preference. At the point where this is no longer safe or feasible, their first choice, by a landslide, is assisted living. The public is finally catching on to this.
Some of you, eager to stay in your home at any cost might be considering the option for home healthcare. Where 93% of respondents would choose assisted living once they could no longer care for themselves, only 11% preferred home healthcare. They understand the unnecessary burden that home care places on family and friends. Plus, the standard of care in assisted living is higher and more consistent.
By the way, some policyholders choose long term care insurance coverage that doesn’t cover home care, which significantly reduces their monthly premiums. Why pay for something you won’t want to use?
Imagine…
Imagine a scenario where you’re living alone. Maybe you’re married but you’re both at an advanced age. You no longer have the balance, strength or stamina from your younger years. You reach a point where you are at risk for falls stepping in or out of the shower. Perhaps you also need a tiny bit of help to avoid falls. Or some help getting up from chairs or getting your pants on. You might be at the point where you have dementia and are starting to make faulty decisions, placing you or your loved ones in danger. Maybe you decide to take an ill-advised walk and you can’t remember how to get back home.
In a reputable assisted living facility, you are
- safer
- less likely to experience abuse or fraud
- at decreased risk for falls
- able to live with less fear about your well-being
- more socially stimulated and carefree
If you own LTC insurance (LTCi) and are at the point where you need assistance in basic, daily tasks, your LTCi will be gushing money, waiting to give you the support. Your LTCi is your passport, with readily-accessible funds to access high quality care when needed. Hopefully, you’ll use your policy. If you’re like many of my policyholders, prompt, easy access to care, when it’s needed, will give you more dignity, safety, security, and options.
If you don’t own a LTCi policy, click here to receive your personal quote.
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