Holidays are usually spent with family. They are the best time to talk, observe and evaluate physical and cognitive health of loved ones as they age. This year is different. Holidays for many of us have not and will not be celebrated with family. Of course, COVID-19 is the reason. Social distancing, quarantining, residing in care communities and more all make the evaluating more challenging. Zoom helps but requires equipment and learning that some may not have. While evaluating may be more difficult, it doesn’t preclude the planning conversation about long-term care.
Long-term care insurance makes the decisions and transitions much easier for families. Even a small policy can offset significant expense. And services like care coordination and care planning offered by insurance companies today are most helpful.
The most important step though is that you and your loved ones have a plan if/when care is required. It’s prudent. It eliminates guessing. We all focus on the cost of care. But the important word in long-term care is “care.” Having a plan demonstrates genuine caring.
