Americans underestimate their chances of needing long-term care, with two-thirds of people over 40 having done little to no planning, according to a new poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
Government figures show nearly 7 in 10 Americans will need long-term care - three years, on average - at some point after they reach 65, whether it's from a relative, a home heath aide, assisted living or a nursing home.
Although most people expect family to step up if they need long-term care, 6 in 10 of those polled haven't even talked with loved ones about the possibility and how they'd like it to work.
"The expectation that your family is going to be there when you need them often doesn't mean they understand the full extent of what the job of caregiving will be," said Susan Reinhard, a nurse who directs AARP's Public Policy Institute.
Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed also underestimated the cost of a nursing home, which averages more than $6,700 a month. Medicare does not pay for the most common types of long-term care, but 37 percent of those surveyed mistakenly think it will pay for a nursing home and even more expect it to cover a home health aide when that is only approved under certain conditions. Read the full story here:
Americans in denial about long-term care
As with medical malpractice, nobody ever expects that they will be the one who ends up needing long-term care. As a result, few people are appropriately planning for this possibility.
If you have been injured due to medical malpractice please call to investigate your matter fully. Crandall & Pera Law is available to help answer your questions and guide you in determining your next steps.