Long-Term Care: It’s More Than Insurance

Family Caregiving Basics shapecharge / Getty Images Long-Term Care: It’s More Than Insurance

Test your knowledge on what you’ll need for a safer, more secure future

February 16, 2024 8 Questions 7079dc5f-6f85-4150-bcd9-e2584ac9cb73 Let's Go { "type": "DISPATCH_CUSTOM", "payload": { "event": "SHOW_QUIZ_QUESTIONS", "payload": "", "target": "NEW_PAGE",

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What is long-term care?

"Taking care of yourself to improve your chances for a healthy future", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "Knowing the costs of long-term care and learning about ways to cover them",

"correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "Creating legal instructions that will help keep you in charge of decisions about your care and finances ", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" :

"All of the above", "correctAnswer" : true } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

There’s more to long-term care planning than insurance and nursing homes. Think of long-term care as the extra help you may need to live safely and comfortably as you get older. Your

long-term care plan should cover many areas, from healthy living and your finances to accessible housing.

: ""}, { "question" : "

What percentage of Americans will need long-term care?

"answer" : "70 percent", "correctAnswer" : true }, { "answer" : "82 percent", "correctAnswer" : false } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

Nearly 70 percent of Americans who reach age 65 will someday require help from others to get through their day, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Seventy-eight

percent said they should have started planning sooner, according to a Genworth survey.

"question" : "

At what age do experts recommend people start planning for long-term care?

}, { "answer" : "50–69", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "70–79", "correctAnswer" : false } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

Experts recommend that most people who are in good health start planning for long-term care years before they think they will need it. The most robust planning sessions should occur between

ages 40 and 50. Despite that recommendation, only 18 percent of adults over 40 have looked into long-term care planning for themselves; a third have helped an older family member get

information, says an AARP survey conducted in 2020.

How do you define a ‘solo ager’? A person who is …

: "Without children", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "Any of the above", "correctAnswer" : true } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

According to an AARP survey, 12 percent of the U.S. population age 50-plus are solo agers — people who live alone, are unpartnered and have no living children. Many solo agers look to their

network of friends to provide support and care; a solid majority (94 percent) of solo ager respondents say they have enough friends. Many rely on at least weekly phone calls (70 percent),

text messages (64 percent), and social media (44 percent) to stay in touch with loved ones.

"question" : "

On average, who requires more long-term care: men or women?

"multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

Stats from LongTermCare.gov show that, on average, women will need help for 3.7 years, and men for 2.2 years. Women are more likely to need long-term care than men, because they outlive men

by an average of five years. They may also find themselves living alone later in life, which increases their chances of needing care from a paid provider.

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What percentage of adults say they want to ‘“age in place’” as they get older?

"correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "65 percent", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "77 percent", "correctAnswer" : true } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

The 2021 AARP Home and Community Preferences survey found that a whopping 77 percent of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long term — a number that has been

consistent for more than a decade. To be able to age in place, 34 percent of older respondents recognize they may need to make physical changes to their home, such as modifying a bathroom or

installing ramps. A quarter of those surveyed anticipate putting an addition on their house or doing some other major renovation.

: "", "questionImgCredit" : ""}, { "question" : "

What percentage of adults have a living will?

"55 percent", "correctAnswer" : false }, { "answer" : "60 percent", "correctAnswer" : false } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

A living will is a written, legally binding document that informs your doctors about your preferences for medical care at the end of life. Only 45 percent of U.S. adults have a living will,

according to a May 2020 Gallup poll.

Does Medicare pay for long-term care costs?

situations", "correctAnswer" : true } ], "multiSelect" : false, "explanation" : "

Paying for long-term care can be expensive, and no one agency or insurer pays for it entirely. Roughly half of adults over 50 believe that Medicare covers care in a nursing home or care in

their own home from a home health aide. In fact, Medicare pays only for skilled nursing home care for a limited time. Many financial, health and personal conditions must be met to get help

paying for long-term care. Exploring financial strategies for paying for long-term care is a big part of planning ahead.

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