LONG TERM CARE COST IS A CONCERN FOR EVERYONE
One of the issues that is much discussed throughout the elder law community is that of the high and ever rising costs associated with long-term care. When you are healthy and active it can be hard to wrap your head around the possibility of a future stay in a long-term care facility of some sort. You may recognize the fact that there are those who do require long-term care but assume that you won't be among them.
If you feel this way you may want to reassess your viewpoint. In reality, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, some seven out of every 10 people who reach the age of 65 will some day need long-term care.
Each year the MetLife Mature Market Institute publishes the results of a survey that places the subject of long-term care costs under the microscope. The results showed that in 2010 the average cost for a stay in an assisted living community rose by 5.2% over 2009 figures while nursing home costs rose by 4.6%.
The average charge for a year in a private room in a nursing home in the United States in 2010 was right around $83,500. However, it is more expensive to stay in a nursing home in the state of California. A year in a private room here would run you almost $105,000 on average. California assisted-living community costs averaged $3600 per month on average.
For people who do require long-term care the average length of stay is between two and four years. If you combine the above figures with these length of stay numbers you can see that you may be facing a considerable expense toward the end of your life. And it is very important to note that Medicare does not cover long-term care.
These expenses can present a looming challenge for many people in the San Bernardino and Riverside area. If you would like to explore your options with regard to meeting these possible costs, simply pick up the phone and arrange for a consultation with an experienced Inland Empire elder law attorney.