In Sickness and in Health: Long-Term Care Considerations for Married Couples

As we age, planning for the future becomes increasingly important. This is especially true when it comes to long-term care. For married couples, this planning is not just about individual needs but is also about ensuring that both partners are cared for—in sickness and in health. October is Long-Term Care Planning Month, which makes it the perfect time for married couples to discuss these crucial considerations.

Understanding Long-Term Care

Long-term care (“LTC”) refers to services to meet the medical and non-medical needs of individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities. LTC can be home- and community-based or provided in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Married couples should strive to create an LTC plan that addresses both partners’ needs while maintaining financial and quality-of-life security.

Key Considerations for Married Couples

Care Needs Assessment

The first task for any long-term-care planning couple is an assessment of day-to-day care needs. Family history, known medical ailments, and long-term care for either partner can all affect this planning.

Financial Planning

LTC can be costly, especially for those spouses whose income won’t be adequate to cover anticipated future costs. Long-term care insurance, health savings accounts (HSAs), and other special financial products can be used to help pay for care. There are also financial professionals who specialize in long-term care planning, which is useful.

Legal Planning

Legal documents, such as wills and powers of attorney, should be arranged. A will is important to ensure that both partners are remembered as per their wishes by their loved ones. Powers of attorney appoint agents to act on the incapacitated partner’s behalf, and living wills/healthcare directives indicate how medical care is to be managed if the couple cannot.

Balancing Caretaker Duties

It’s common for one spouse to take on the role of being a caretaker to the other. In many instances, this is instinctual, but it’s helpful to remember that caring for someone can deplete limited physical and emotional resources for the caregiving spouse. Couples should think carefully about how to support each other through these responsibilities and explore available respite care options to give caregiving partners a release.

Asset Protection

Create and take advantage of asset-protection trusts and similar planning tools that can be implemented while you are relatively healthy and allow you to ‘protect’ certain assets (such as the sale of your home or other gifts in limited amounts).

The Benefits of Early Planning

There are many advantages to planning early. It helps give you the most options in your care services and financial products and reduces your stress and the need to make impulsive, short-term decisions during a health crisis.

In Closing

Planning ahead for long-term care needs is one of the inevitable realities of aging. Although it won’t exactly be a highlight on your anniversary card, you should at least be able to plan it as a topic of conversation. This National Long-Term Care Planning Month, talk to your spouse and begin planning so you can both continue to enjoy your lives through sickness and in health.

Important Disclosures:

Content in this material is for educational and general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.

This article was prepared by WriterAccess.

LPL Tracking #609848