We were really impressed with this Long Term Care Resource Planning Guide put together by AARP. AARP Maine shared it with us, and we thought we should pass it along to readers. Not every part of it will be applicable to you or your long term care needs, but it gives a great outline of what you should be thinking about, either for eventual long term care of a senior loved one, or in your own planning.
The long term care planning guide topics include your home, your health, your finances and what you want to happen and who you want to speak for you if you can’t.
Long term care planning covers everything from home modifications to community assistance, technology help and legacy decisions. It’s not all about health care of senior living communities. The long term care guide uses an interesting Q & A style and includes family stories of long term care use.
One thing to remember: this guide was originally written in 2009 and the prices reflect that. Plus Maine is a costlier state for health care. The guide’s typical cost of $2,900 for assisted living in a community is low, for example. You can call your local home care provider or community and ask about costs. (You can search locally in Maine Senior Guide.)
The guide is in PDF format, easy to download and print, or to share. The more family or community members you can involve in long term care planning decisions, the easier it will be to create a plan that benefits your loved ones, and helps provide their continued care within the important parameters you’ve agreed upon.