Marlene S. Stum, Ph.D. Family Social Science

1. Recognize your risk of needing long term care.

It's important that individuals examine their risk of needing long term care and the potential costs of long term care. A person should consider factors that make him/her more or less likely to need care. These factors include:

• current age,
• current health status and lifestyle,
• family history, and
• availability of family assistance.

Individuals and families should also educate themselves about:

• risk of needing a long nursing home stay,
• risk of needing in-home and community services to remain in the home,
• care options, and
• the gradual increase of long term care needs over time.

2. Understand the possible long term care costs or financial risk.

Individuals need to consider the costs of long term care. Most people underestimate the costs associated with long term care. People should be able to answer the following questions: