One of the challenges that many senior citizens are going to face will be the need for living assistance. You may automatically think that you will live in a nursing home or an assisted living community should you need help with your day-to-day needs. This is certainly an option, but it is important to be aware of just how expensive this care has become.
According to a 2011 MetLife Mature Market Institute survey, the average annual charge for residence in an assisted living community in the United States is $41,700 ($55,044 in San Francisco). The same interim residing in a private room in a nursing home averaged $87,200 annually ($177,025 annual average in San Francisco). When you consider the fact that the average length of stay is between two and four years, this is quite an expense to be faced with late in your life.
The more affordable alternative would be to take steps that enable you to stay in your home as long as possible. A professional caregiver can be employed who will come in and help on an as-needed basis, and this can be affordable.
In addition, you could also modify your home to accommodate your physical limitations. Things can be installed such as step chairs, motion activated faucets, grab bars, walk-in showers, and even elevators. These modifications could make it possible for you to live comfortably in the home.
If you want to be prepared for all the eventualities of aging, you need to make plans in advance. The best way of doing this is with the assistance of an estate planning and elder law San Jose, CA attorney with an office that specializes in life care planning (the combination of Medi-Cal planning and geriatric care management services).
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