Have you ever heard the expression, “No decision is a decision?”
By putting off deciding, you’ve actually made one – and the decision that was made may not be in your best interest. By delaying and delaying, you may unwittingly be giving up some control of your life.
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8
Over the years, we noticed that one of the most common decisions that people delay is creating a strategy for extended care. There are a variety of reasons for this, but we have found that urgency only increases with age.
Extended Care for Men and Women
The Administration for Community Living found that a 65-year-old person today has roughly a 70% chance of needing some type of extended care in the future. The study also found that women need care longer (3.7 years) than men (2.2 years).¹
“Be prepared for emergencies,” wrote Mick Owens in his popular book, Diamond of Life: The Five P’s of Success and Significance. “In addition to having a nest egg to produce the needed income, you will also need a bucket that is sitting there safely to be able to access in the event of emergencies.”
Mick explained that some people see market risk as the biggest threat to their retirement portfolios. However, he noted the potential need for extended care may be a bigger risk.
Monthly Cost of Extended Care Services²
In-Home Care | |
|---|---|
Homemaker Services | $4,957 |
Home Health Aide | $5,148 |
Community Assisted Living | |
Adult Day Health Care | $1,690 |
Assisted Living Facility | $4,500 |
Nursing Home Facility | |
Semi-Private Room | $7,908 |
Private Room | $9,034 |
Extended Care Service
Extended care is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of assistance or care you may need if you are no longer able to perform activities of daily living.
Sometimes, extended care is designed to help you with bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom. Other services can provide help specifically in the morning, or at night. In more extreme instances, extended care may mean moving to a nursing home while you recover from a fall or surgery or are managing a chronic illness.³
A Strategy For You
The aging process changes everyone. No matter how well you eat. No matter how much you exercise. No matter how much you keep your mind engaged and your soul fulfilled, the aging process changes everyone.
- AdministrationCommunityLiving.org, 2023
- Genworth.com, 2023. Median cost based on Genworth’s 2021 national survey, the most recent statistics available.
- Schwab.com, August 14th 2023.
