Planning for long-term care is an easy thing to put off.  Maybe you think it is too early; Maybe you just don't want to think about it.  If you suffer a major health crisis that leaves you dependent on someone else, you'll be glad you planned.

With A Plan

1. You have a professional to plan for your care at home providing all types of services related to your particular sickness, illness, injury, or condition.

2. Your family can be part of the care plan but they will not have to be the planners.

3. You will have the money to pay for long term care without having to deplete the family nest egg for your care.

4. Your loved ones can carry on a more normal life.

5. Your family will attend to your needs out of love instead of obligation.

6. Because you have the funds you will be able to choose your own facility or stay at home whichever is more appropriate.

7. You will be able to stay home longer.

8. You will be able to leave some of what you have worked hard for to your family.

9. You would be able to stay with your children without depending on them for all of your care.

10. You can feel good knowing that all of the money you have worked hard to attain will not be used up in a few short years by paying for care in the end.

11. Less friction between family members. One family member won't be stuck with the responsibility of care giving.

Without A Plan

1. Someone in your family must make a decison about who will be caring for you, who will be paying, and where you will stay.

2. Your family must find the caregivers that you need in order to stay home.

3. You could be forced to take between $40,000 and $80,000 a year out of your savings and income to pay for care.

4. The family members involved with your care will be chained to your needs. They may come to resent you.

5. The family will have no choice but to deal with your problems at their expense.

6. You or your family may have to make choices based on your ability to pay rather than on your needs or preferences.

7. You may enter a nursing home prematurely.

8. You may have to use up a large portion of your assets to pay for care you need.

9. Because the children have busy lives they may not be able to keep you in their own home and provide for your care.

10. The biggest reason for financial failure among seniors today is the cost of long-term care.

11. Family members often resent one or the other for not doing their part when a parent needs help.