Susan and Joe never thought that they would need long-term care. They were both healthy eaters, marathon runners, and world travelers. To their surprise, when Joe was 67 years old, he developed Parkinson’s. At first, it wasn’t too bad, and he continued enjoying his hobbies with his wife. But as his condition worsened, his motor skills diminished, and he began losing his memory (80% of those with Parkinson’s get dementia, as
well). Joe had to eventually go into a nursing home, and despite leading a healthy lifestyle, he and Susan wished that they had better planned for the possibility of long-term care.
Joe and Susan’s children, who are both under the age of 40, were surprised when their dad's condition declined so badly, and how much nursing home care cost for their father when the need arose. It was truly an eye-opening experience for them that it would cost more than $12,000 a month for a room in a local nursing home!
Joe and Susan’s situation is not unique; it happens to thousands of people every day. However, with knowledge about long-term care and proper planning in place, you can be prepared if it happens to you.
Who Needs Long-Term Care?
