For some, retirement means "where will we play today's round of golf?" For others, it could mean, "do I pay for my meds or my rent?" In either case, a few concerns touch every retiree. And the topic of long-term care is one of them, at least subconsciously. The question that causes more than a few sleepless nights is, "What happens when I can't take care of myself anymore?"
Publicly, it's another story. Far too many will brush off the need for long-term care, whether in a nursing home or assisted living. The refrain is often "Don't worry, it won't happen to me." Yet 70 percent of those now 65 or older will develop needs before they die. (Source: Kiplinger)
Part of that 70 percent will be people in facilities for a short period of rehab after the growing number of knee or hip replacements. But the remainder is made up of people unable to perform two or more of the six "ADLs" – activities of daily living. ADLs are used to measure someone's fundamental skills needed to live independently. They include eating, bathing and hygiene, dressing, grooming, mobility, and toileting and continence.