The Rising Costs of Senior Care in America

Long-term care planning is a must for any senior citizen, but as costs continue to drastically climb, the prospect of being able to fund long-term care seems next to impossible. While there are more options available today for senior care, some of which are far less expensive than others, it can be difficult to determine what level of care you will need, when you will need it, and how long you will need it. With this level of uncertainty, it can be hard to decide what arrangements would be best, or even what arrangements are available to you.

Nursing homes are the most expensive option for long-term care, followed by full-time home health care and assisted living facilities. The least expensive option is day care for seniors, but in many cases, day care does not offer the services that seniors require, especially in terms of medical care. Even senior day care, however, can be prohibitively expensive for a senior citizen whose only income is Social Security benefits. The costs of senior day care ranges from a high of $2,340 per month in New Mexico and Maine to a low of $596 per month in Alabama and $715 per month in Texas. Adult day care in Michigan falls in the mid-range of these costs, at $1,753 per month, which is slightly above the average national cost of $1,473.00 per month.

While the costs of adult day care are admittedly expensive, the alternatives are even more expensive. The least expensive state for at-home health care is Louisiana, at $3,051 per month. The average national cost of an assisted living facility is slightly more expensive at $3,628 per month. Nursing home care has become almost prohibitively expensive, no matter where you live. These costs range from a low of $5,011 per month in Oklahoma to $24,820 per month in California.

No matter what type of long-term care you are considering, Legacy Law Center is here to help. We advise clients about long-term care planning on a daily basis. Our goal is to determine what long-term care options you have and what you will be able to afford when the time comes so that you can make the decisions that are best for you and your family. You also should learn how Medicaid works when it comes to long-term care, and whether Medicaid coverage is available to you. No matter how far away long-term care seems, it is important that you take the first step and call our office today to set up a meeting time with one of our Michigan elder law attorneys.