November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month
The month of November is designated as Long-Term Care Awareness Month. The focus is to educate others on long-term care needs and the benefit of planning for the future.
In 2010, almost 10 million people in the U.S. needed long-term care, and research suggests that most Americans over the age of 65 will need long-term care at some point in their lives.* But, what many people may not realize is that long-term care is more than nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Long-term care can be an important part of keeping your independence and staying in your own home as long as possible. Even things that you have always been able to do on your own, like cooking and cleaning, can one day require assistance. Long-term care includes a variety of options, such as in-home care, assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospice care. Being aware of the choices and benefits can help seniors and caregivers prepare for the right fit.
Planning for long-term care before you need it can be a blessing. It may allow you to continue cherishing family relationships by relying on professional caregivers for daily needs.
Now that you are more aware of the possibility for long-term care needs, share this knowledge with others that may one day need long-term care for themselves or a loved one.
*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2017, October 10). Web page: The Basics – Long-Term Care Information. Retrieved Oct. 13, 2017, from https://longtermcare.acl.gov/the-basics/.
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