{"id":355750,"date":"2022-05-02T14:08:57","date_gmt":"2022-05-02T19:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ability-fl-prod.internetbrands.com\/ability-law\/elder\/elder-care-law\/dealing-with-the-cost-of-long-term-elder-care.html"},"modified":"2026-08-03T15:58:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T20:58:00","slug":"dealing-with-the-cost-of-long-term-elder-care","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/elder\/elder-care-law\/dealing-with-the-cost-of-long-term-elder-care.html","title":{"rendered":"Managing the Cost of Long-Term Older Adult Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Dealing With the Cost of Long-Term Older Adult Care<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Olivia Wathne, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Melissa Bender, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n
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Long\u2011term care is expensive, so planning ahead is essential. Long\u2011term care insurance, early applications, and Medicaid\/estate planning tools like irrevocable trusts can help protect assets while ensuring access to needed care. Medicare does not cover most long-term care services, and Medicaid will only kick in once all other resources are exhausted,\u00a0making proactive planning crucial.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It is important to plan out how to cover long-term care costs. Special insurance, smart estate planning, and other steps can help you plan for your long-term care or assist in planning for the care of senior relatives.<\/p>\n

According to a survey by Genworth, the monthly cost of an assisted living facility in 2025 is $6,200, while a private room in nursing home care is $10,798<\/a>. Home healthcare and living services hover around $6,500 per month. These costs are staggering for many families.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medicare and Medicaid are not always a solution.\u00a0Medicare does not cover most long-term care services<\/a>, and Medicaid will only kick in once all other resources are exhausted. Eligibility for these programs and health insurance can cause issues for loved ones.<\/p>\n

This article explains how to plan for the costs of long-term care for older adults. You’ll also learn about the estate planning tools that are best-suited to help you and your loved ones manage the financial burden of long-term care. You can also consult an attorney near you<\/a> for estate planning guidance tailored to your family’s situation and care goals.<\/p>\n

What Is Long-Term Care?<\/h2>\n

Long-term care<\/a>\u00a0is care given to individuals when they cannot perform normal activities like cooking and eating, bathing, getting dressed, cleaning, laundry, and going to the bathroom without help. This assistance can come from professionals or other family members.<\/p>\n

Often, people need long-term care because of specific health issues or advanced age. The goal is to provide enough assistance so that the person can still enjoy a good quality of life.<\/p>\n

In addition to assistance with daily tasks, long-term care can include medical services, such as cleaning and checking equipment, administering injections and medication, and checking vitals.<\/p>\n

This type of care is important for seniors to avoid dangers such as falls,<\/a> accidents at home, or medication overdoses.<\/p>\n

Types of Long-Term Care<\/h3>\n

There are different options for long-term care:<\/p>\n

Home-Based Care<\/strong><\/p>\n

Home-based care<\/a>\u00a0can include both medical and non-medical services. A\u00a0home caregiver\u00a0<\/i>can provide help with non-medical services such as running errands, cooking, cleaning, and household chores. A\u00a0home health aide\u00a0is a caregiver trained to assist with more medical-based tasks such as bathing, eating, checking vital signs, providing medications, and cleaning and using medical equipment.<\/p>\n

Community Care<\/strong><\/p>\n

Community-based care includes services that help seniors continue living in their homes. This type of assistance includes transportation, meal deliveries, companion services, emergency response systems, and senior centers.<\/p>\n

Long-Term Care Facilities and Homes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Facility-based care options<\/a>\u00a0are for people who must move out of their homes for the appropriate level of assistance. There are different options for facilities, each of which varies in the level of care patients need,\u00a0whether that be independent living facilities that merely provide help for daily care activities such as housekeeping and transportation or retirement homes that provide 24-hour supervision and include medical care.<\/p>\n

Some residential facilities offer different living arrangements in the same building or development so that people can transition to a higher level of care as they age.<\/p>\n

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DIY living wills<\/a>, powers of attorney<\/a>, and living trusts<\/a> are possible in some simple cases. For more complex or high-stakes estate planning, get help from an attorney near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What Is the Cost of Long-Term Care?<\/h3>\n

Long-term care needs vary depending on a person’s age, medical conditions, and personal care needs.\u00a0Long-term care can be very expensive\u00a0whether it takes place at home or in a dedicated facility<\/a>:<\/p>\n