Planning For Long-Term Care For Dummies

Expert advice on planning for your own or a relative&rsquo,s future care needs As we live longer and healthier lives, planning for the long term has never been more important. Planning gives you more control, but it&rsquo,s not easy to find accurate information and answers to your questions. That&rsquo,s where AARP&rsquo,s Planning For Long–Term Care For Dummies comes in. This comprehensive guide gives you questions to ask yourself and others about how best to achieve your goals, whether you have immediate needs or can take some time to sort out the possibilities. The book , Covers home modifications so that you can stay at home safely for as long as you like Lays out the opportunities and costs associated with independent living, assisted living, and other options Gives you a range of driving and transportation alternatives Sorts out the various sources of care at home Helps you navigate the healthcare system Reviews the legal documents you should prepare and update Helps you determine whether you need long–term care insurance Offers checklists and other resources to help you make decisions Gives you guidance on how to talk to your family about sensitive issues If you′re looking for trusted information on how to prepare for the future care needs for yourself or a relative, this sensitive, realistic, and authoritative guide will start you on the right road.

Introduction , 1 Part I: Getting Started with Long–Term Care , 5 Chapter 1: Looking Ahead: The Big Picture 7 Chapter 2: A Personal Inventory of Needs and Preferences 21 Chapter 3: Researching Options for Services 29 Chapter 4: Making Decisions: A Family Affair 41 Part II: Long–Term Care in Different Settings , 51 Chapter 5: Aging in Place 53 Chapter 6: Independent and Assisted Living and Other Group Settings 69 Chapter 7: Under One Roof: Generations Living Together 87 Chapter 8: Beyond Your Home: Living in a Community 101 Chapter 9: Getting Around: Transportation Options 113 Part III: Legal and Financial Planning for Long–Term Care , 125 Chapter 10: Unraveling the Rules of Medicare and Medicaid 127 Chapter 11: Paying for Care: Long–Term Care Insurance and Other Options 145 Chapter 12: Financial Matters: Money Management, Wills, and Trusts 159 Part IV: Managing Your Health for the Long Term , 175 Chapter 13: Choosing Good Geriatric Care 177 Chapter 14: Demystifying Home Care 191 Chapter 15: Understanding the Role of Nursing Homes in Long–Term Care 205 Chapter 16: Moving Toward Advance Care Planning 219 Part V: Special Populations , 231 Chapter 17: Services for LGBT Older Adults 233 Chapter 18: Planning for Veterans 247 Chapter 19: Services for Family Caregivers 261 Part VI: The Part of Tens , 279 Chapter 20: Ten Myths about Aging and Long–Term Care 281 Chapter 21: Ten Resources with State–by–State Information 291 Part VII: Appendixes , 299 Appendix A: Glossary , 301 Appendix B: Resources , 317 Index , 325