New York Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
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Yet another company, Northwestern Mutual, has recently issued a “Cost of Long-Term Care” study. Of course, the results indicate that the actual cost depends on a range of factors including what part of the country one lives, whether an at-home aide is hired, or whether one moves into a skilled nursing facility. As any New York elder law attorney can attest, our area is always at the very top of the list when it comes to long-term care costs. It is for that reason that it is particularly incumbent upon area resident to meet with an elder law attorney to plan ahead before the costs actually need to be paid. It is simply impossible for most families to bear the financial burden of this care on their own.
This latest research effort from Northwestern Mutual involved surveys from 6,000 different sources, including a mix of assisted living facilities, home health care organizations, and nursing homes. The researchers found that the hourly rate for home healthcare workers was anywhere from $33 per hour to $15 per hour. New York assistance was near the highest of the group.
Assisted living facilities had rates anywhere from $1,500 a month to just shy of $7,000 per month. As with home health care workers, our area has particularly expensive assisted living facility prices. In addition, it is often difficult to even get into one of these facilities, as many of the best have long waiting lists of folks hoping to get a spot when there is an opening.
Nursing home care is particularly expensive, both in New York and throughout the country. The average cost throughout the country is around $90,000 a year. However, rates in our area can rise to more than double that amount, usually over $10,000 a month. It is important to note that these costs do not even include related expenses like use of medical equipment, transportation, and medicine.
The research project also determined that right now there is a 66% chance that a senior over the age of 65 will eventually need long-term care. Similar surveys have identified that rate as even higher. Overall, that means that for most residents the question is not a matter of if they will need this care but when. With odds like those it is simply common sense to take the time to plan for the care ahead of time. Local residents who conduct even basic New York elder care planning can save hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets that otherwise would vanish had the preparations not be taken.
See Our Related Blog Posts:
Nonprofit Innovators Try to Shift Senior Care Away From the Nursing Home
New York Long-Term Care Near the Most Expensive in the Country