Disability Planning

Planning for Disability – The Good, The Bad and The Necessary

No one likes to think about the possibility of their own disability or the disability of a loved one. However, as we’ll see below, the statistics are clear that we should all plan for, at the very least, a temporary disability. Disability planning is one area where we can give each and every person and family we work with great comfort in knowing that, if the day comes for themselves or a loved one, they will be prepared.

Most Individuals Will Face at Least a Temporary Disability

Study after study confirms that nearly everyone will face at least a temporary disability sometime during their lifetime. More specifically, one in three Americans will face at least a 90-day disability before reaching age 65 and, as the following graph depicts–depending upon their ages–up to 44% of Americans will face a disability of up to 4.7 years. On the whole, Americans are up to 3.5 times more likely to become disabled than die in any given year.

Many Persons Will Face a Long Term Disability

Unfortunately, for many Americans the disability will not be short-lived. According to the 2000 National Home and Hospice Care Survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, over 1.3 million Americans received long term home health care services during 2000 (the most recent year this information is available). Three-fourths of these patients received skilled care, the highest level of in-home care, and 51% needed help with at least one “activity of daily living” (such as eating, bathing, getting dressed, or the kind of care needed for a severe cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s disease). The average length of service was 312 days, and 70% of in-home patients were 65 years of age or older. Patient age is particularly important as more Americans live past age 65. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging tells us that Americans over 65 are increasing at an impressive rate:

The Department of Health and Human Services also estimates that 9 million Americans over age 65 will need long term care this year. That number is expected to increase to 12 million by 2020. The Department also estimates that 70% of all persons age 65 or older will need some type of long term care services during their lifetime.

Receiving Care

According to the National Nursing Home Survey 2004 Overview, the national average length of stay for nursing home residents is 835 days, with over 56% of nursing home residents staying at least one year. Significantly, only 19% are discharged in less than three months. Those residents who were married or living with a partner at the time of admission had a significantly shorter average stay than those who were widowed, divorced, or never married. Likewise, those who lived with a family member prior to admission also had a shorter average stay than those who lived alone prior to admission.  While a relatively small number (1.56 million) and percentage (4.5%) of the 65+ population lived in nursing homes in 2000, the percentage increased dramatically with age, ranging from 1.1% for persons 65-74 years to 4.7% for persons 75-84 years and 18.2% for persons 85+. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2009, 68% of nursing home residents were women, and only 16% of all residents were under the age of 65. The median age of residents was 83 years.

According to the Met Life 2010 Mature Market Institute, current estimates indicate that nearly 1 million people live in approximately 39,500 assisted living residences in the U.S. The average age of an assisted living resident is 86.9 years old, and the median length of stay in assisted living is 29.3 months.

Long-Term Care Costs can be Staggering

Not only will many individuals and families face prolonged long term care, in-home care and nursing home costs continue to rise. According to the 2010 Met Life Market Survey of Nursing Home, Assisted Living, Adult Day Services, and Home Care Costs, national averages for long term care costs are as follows:

These costs vary significantly by region, and thus it is critical to know the costs where the individual will receive care. For example, the average cost for a private room in a nursing home is much higher in the Northeast ($381 per day, or $139,065 annually, in New York City) than in the Midwest (only $174 per day, or $63,510 annually, in Chicago) or the West ($238 per day, or $86,870 annually, in Los Angeles).

Long-Term Care Insurance May Cover These Costs

If a parent, their spouse, or family member needs long term care, the cost could easily deplete and/or extinguish the family’s hard-earned assets. Alternatively, seniors (or their families) can pay for long term care completely or in part through long term care insurance. Most long term care insurance plans let the individual choose the amount of the coverage she wants, as well as how and where she can use her benefits. A comprehensive plan includes benefits for all levels of care, custodial to skilled. Clients can receive care in a variety of settings, including the person’s home, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, or hospice facilities.

Conclusion

The above discussion outlines the minimum planning clients should consider in preparation for a possible disability. It is imperative that clients work with a team of professional advisers (legal, medical and financial) to ensure that, in light of their unique goals and objectives, their planning addresses all aspects of a potential disability.

This article was written by one of our guest bloggers. Further questions should be addressed to her using the contact information below.

Leigh Hilton – Elder Law Attorney
email – leigh@leighhilton.net
website – www.leighhilton.net