Elder Care Attorney, Mindy Felinton tells readers that it is far better to hope for the best while planning for the worst when it comes to long-term care needs, suggesting that if the finances are there and are not needed they can be dispersed among heirs.
Delray Beach, FL November 7, 2019: Mindy Felinton, founder of Felinton Elder Law & Estate Planning Centers, has posted a new article on her law firm’s website entitled “Statistics Prove The Need To Plan For Long-Term Care.” Ms. Felinton encourages readers to take the statistics she offers to heart.
“Truth be told,” Felinton writes, “no one knows for certain whether they will need long-term care.” She continues, “However, planning as if you will need it is far better than assuming that you won’t need it.” She elaborates further, “I’ve been looking at some statistics that point to the importance of having a solid financial plan that includes provisions for long-term care. The great news is that if you don’t need long-term care, you’ll have more to give to your loved ones or you favorite charitable organization.”
Felinton says, “According to recent government statistics, “Someone turning age 65 today has almost a 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services and support in their remaining years.” She adds, “The fact is that as many as one-third of today’s 65-year-olds may never need long-term care support, but 20 percent will need it for longer than 5 years. And, due to the fact that women typically outlive men, they will need care longer than men.”
“Let’s start by looking at who is providing the majority of long-term care in this country,” Felinton suggests. She goes on to say that, “According to caregiveraction.org, a tremendous amount of caregiving is being done for free by family members and friends. According to their research, “The value of the services family caregivers provide for “free,” when caring for older adults, is estimated to be $375 billion a year. That is almost twice as much as is actually spent on homecare and nursing home services combined ($158 billion).”
According to Felinton, “When a prospective client comes to me to consider establishing an estate and asset protection plan, I always include long-term health care planning in the equation. Most people tell me they do not want to be a burden on their children as they age.” She goes on to add, “However, a majority of people fail to plan appropriately for their prospective long-term health care needs.”
The entire article can be read at https://www.felintonlaw.com/statistics-prove-the-need-to-plan-for-long-term-care/
About Mindy Felinton
From a young age, Mindy wanted to be the voice that would make an impact in people’s lives. She became an attorney and has practiced law for over 30 years, so that she could fulfill her desire to help others. As a special prosecutor, Mindy defended the underdog (literally) in cases of animal abuse. As a state attorney in Florida she fought for justice. During the last 25 years, Mindy met many wonderful people who did not know their rights, did not understand the law, and did not know what options were available.
Mindy assists families with Medicaid planning to help with the cost of nursing home care and with obtaining veteran’s benefits to make the cost of care more manageable. She also prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and medical directives. Mindy is passionate about educating both other professionals and the public concerning VA Aid & Attendance benefits, Medicaid benefits, and the use of trusts for the protection of assets. She shares her experience and professional knowledge through free workshops, and as a frequent lecturer at State Bar Conferences.