U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services offers insights into Long Term Care:Consumers may hear many confusing statements regarding the topic of long term care, both published in the public domain and repeated by misinformed individuals. Over the next few weeks, I will be submitting a series of columns containing accurate information provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, website http://longtermcare.gov. I encourage you to watch for and read these informative columns.
The LTC Basics #2:
Who needs Long Term Care?
About 70 percent of people will need some form of long term care at some point in their lives. There are a number of factors that affect the possibility that you will need care:
Age
- The older you are, the more likely you will need long term care.
Gender
- Women outlive men by about five years on average, so they are more likely to live at home alone when they are older.
Living Arrangements
- If you live alone, you’re more likely to need paid care than if you’re married, or single, and living with a partner.
Disability
- Having an accident or chronic illness that causes a disability is another reason for needing long term care.
- Between ages 40 and 50, on average, eight percent of people have a disability that could require long term care services.
- 69 percent of people age 90 or more have a disability.
Health Status
- Chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure make you more likely to need care.
- Your family history, such as whether your parents or grandparents had chronic conditions, may increase your likelihood.
- Poor diet poor exercise habits increase your chances of needing long term care.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, http://longtermcare.gov.
Sue Hofmann is an Agent and Long Term Care Professional (LTCP) at The Jemez Agency, http://www.thejemezagency.com, 2610 Trinity Dr., Los Alamos, and can be reached at sue@thejemezagency.com or 505-662-5181.
