Although you might be excited for what the future may bring, no one enjoys thinking about growing older. But whether you’re currently in your 50s or you have a loved one who’s approaching retirement years, it’s important to prepare for what’s to come.
In many cases, that may mean exploring options for senior care outside the home. A long term care facility can provide hands-on supervision and support for 24 hours a day. And while you might not think finding a long term care facility in St Louis will be a priority for you or someone you love, you may come to learn that this level of care is within your or your relative’s best interests.
Still, you might dismiss the idea of long term care due to widely held misconceptions. There’s a lot of confusion surrounding senior health and proper care, so it’s not surprising that you might believe some of these myths yourself. But in today’s post, we’re sharing some things you shouldn’t believe in order to provide you with the accurate information you need to make pivotal decisions in the future.
MISCONCEPTION: My family will provide all the care I need at home.
Many seniors intend to remain in their homes as they age (an idea often referred to as “aging in place”). While staying in a comfortable and familiar environment makes a lot of sense, it may not always be practical or even possible. If you don’t have family members who live close by or your closest relatives simply aren’t able to devote that kind of time and effort to your care, it’s possible that your basic needs may go unmet.
The reality is that nearly 70% of Americans turning 65 will require long term care at some point. Your first choice might be to remain at home — or your intention might be to care for your loved one yourself. But in many cases, you might realize down the line that this isn’t the best choice for everyone involved. It’s often a good idea to plan for a few different scenarios and to be proactive about exploring those options before the need becomes immediate.
MISCONCEPTION: My health insurance will pay for my care, so I don’t need to budget for that.
A lot of seniors are under the assumption that Medicare or other health insurance options will cover the entirety of their long term care needs. But although some insurance plans might cover skilled nursing benefits or specific types of care, long-term care is largely left out of this coverage. Even long-term care insurance may not cover all of the associated costs you could incur. Your monetary savings may come up short, as well — unless you make every effort to plan ahead or these needs.
In other words, you absolutely need to budget for the possibility of long term care. Overall, you’ll need to save substantially more for retirement than you probably think you’ll need. You should also conduct thorough research when it comes to obtaining health insurance and long term care insurance, as it’s easy to make assumptions and miss crucial information about what your policy will cover (and what it won’t).
MISCONCEPTION: All long term care facilities are basically the same.
A lot of people use senior care terms interchangeably. But there are major differences between the types of care that may be available to you. For instance, a nursing home is very different from an independent or assisted living facility. Even between similarly categorized facilities, there may be differentiations. For example, one long term care facility may merely provide around-the-clock care, while another will actually offer skilled nursing or rehab facilities.
In other words, not all senior facilities are created equal. Some facilities that offer long term care and skilled nursing may be appropriate options for those who haven’t reached retirement age yet! Again, thorough research is key in determining which facility will best serve your needs.
Now that you know what not to believe about long term care, you can make a more informed choice when deciding on a plan for yourself or a loved one. To learn more about our long term care facility, please get in touch with us today.
