Long Term Care

Long term care is needed by those who can't perform the basic tasks required to take care of themselves. This can include people suffering from a debilitating illness or chronic injury. The need for long term care can arise unexpectedly, often creating a large financial burden. This calculator can help you determine if you are financially prepared for this impending expense.

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Definitions

Estimated daily cost: This is your current estimated cost of long term care. In 2004, the estimated the average cost for a nursing home stay was over $60,000 per year for a semi-private room. This is about $169 per day. The cost for a private room was just over $70,000 or $192 per day. Assisted living at home can cost more than $36,000 per year or $18 per hour for a home healthcare aid. Both of these long term care costs can be considerably higher in larger metropolitan areas.
Years of care: The number of years you expect to require long term care. The average stay in a nursing home is about 2.5 years, but can vary considerably.
Inflation rate: What you expect for the average long-term inflation rate. A common measure of inflation in the U.S. is the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which has a long-term average of 3.1% annually, from 1925 through 2004. We will increase the cost of your long term care by this rate each year.
Funds currently available: The total amount that you have saved or invested that would be available to pay for long term care expenses.