Ohio Department of Aging Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 30, 2009

October is Long-term Care Planning Month
Ohioans Encouraged to 'Own Your Future"

COLUMBUS - In recognition of October as National Long-term Care Planning Month, the Ohio Department of Aging encourages all Ohioans, no matter your age, to make decisions now about the types of care you'd like to receive as you age, where you'd prefer to receive it and how you will pay for it.

"Seven out of 10 people over the age of 65 will require some long-term care services, and that likelihood increases as we age," said Barbara E. Riley, director of the department. "But, younger people should plan, too. Nearly 40 percent of those currently receiving long-term care are between the ages of 18 and 64."

Ohioans can visit www.longtermcare.gov to learn more about long-term care planning and the options they should consider, as well as download or order the free "Own Your Future" planning kit. Families with an immediate need for long-term care can contact their area agency on aging at 1-866-243-5678 to request a free personal assessment by a professional long-term care planner.

"There is too much money and too many people involved in long-term care for it to be an impulse decision," Riley added. "All issues - from the person's needs and preferences, to the types of care available - need thoughtful and thorough exploration. The 'Own Your Future' kit and the state's area agencies on aging can help."

Paying for care can be expensive: currently about $60,000 a year for a nursing home and $38,000 for home care in Ohio. Average lifetime expenditures for a person who needs long-term care can reach $150,000. Medicare and Medicare supplements generally do not pay for long-term care, and many people qualify for Medicaid only after the costs of long-term care have virtually wiped out all of their financial resources. As a result, they find themselves in a time of crisis with limited choices. Planning, including looking at options for long-term care insurance, can make these decisions easier.

In an AARP survey, most Ohioans said they'd prefer to receive the care they need in their own homes. This is made possible, in large part, due to the contribution and sacrifice of family members and other loved ones who supplement paid professional care in the home. For these families, long-term care can cost the caregiver as well, both in terms of money they spend on care and in terms of lost wages and productivity if they work. Caregiving also takes a physical and emotional toll on a person. A long-term care plan should take family caregiving into account and provide the caregiver with the peace of mind that things will be taken care of should she no longer be able to provide care or the care recipient's condition worsens.

About ODA

The Ohio Department of Aging provides leadership for the delivery of services and supports that improve and promote quality of life and personal choice for older Ohioans, adults with disabilities, their families and their caregivers. Working with 12 area agencies on aging and other community partners, the department offers home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman program, the Golden Buckeye Card and more. Visit www.aging.ohio.gov.