The truth is most of us move to convalescent care from hospital and with the help of social workers. But for now......... First of all you organize yourself and your thinking. Make careful lists of assets, needs and availability of care. You also explore, as you go, your current/future living conditions/requirements. For instance, how close to public transit and shopping for basic food staples are you? And etc. How close to your medical care.
I am saying that you early on make certain you can meet your daily needs whether or not you can drive, and etc. Long before we ourselves fail, things like our eyesight preclude our driving.
As to long term care you're far from alone. Many elders don't have children; others (like me) won't be making USE of their children. Should they be able to they hire a Fiduciary to help them; if they cannot afford this they may become a part of the state system for guardianship which usually happens through their medical teams. They develop NOW friends and a supportive community around themselves.
That said, your medical team will guide you to social services and etc to help you. This is a for profit country and much will depend upon how lucky and how diligent you have been in saving for aging. If you have funds you will be able to hire in help for a good long time. If not, you will require care, and what care is available to you will almost be entirely dependent on the savings you gather over a lifetime.
I wish you luck. Here are a few things to think about. 1. Whether or not you are a person of faith, many faith-based communities are a wealth of love and care to their members. Consider joining a Church. The Unitarians are quite non- denominational. 2. Such organizations as On Lok and The Village are in large cities. You can start going to their functions for social support, food support and to PROVIDE support for others while you are able, thus giving yourself a good BASE to rely on when you yourself need support. 3. Maintain good health. You know how to do that. It means you don't smoke, you eat a good balanced diet and you never stop moving. I am 81 and I am still caring for myself and daily active in my garden, walking, etc. Some of health is the luck of the draw genetics wise. MOST OF IT is the determination to "live right" medically. 4. Get the best supplemental insurance available to you. In crisis this is going to get the social workers calling YOU, not you calling them. I swear by Kaiser. Others don't. You must explore your own.
I wish you nothing but good luck. We all eventually are alone. My partner and I are 81 and 83 respectively. Elizabeth and many others here are in their 80s, knowing their time healthy and together is limited. I will not be depending upon my children, who live states away, for care; in fact it would shatter me to think they would spend the best years of their freedom caring for me; they know better than to do so.
Take good care, and on you go. You are THINKING about all this and that's one very important and WISE thing to do!
First of all you organize yourself and your thinking.
Make careful lists of assets, needs and availability of care.
You also explore, as you go, your current/future living conditions/requirements. For instance, how close to public transit and shopping for basic food staples are you? And etc. How close to your medical care.
I am saying that you early on make certain you can meet your daily needs whether or not you can drive, and etc. Long before we ourselves fail, things like our eyesight preclude our driving.
As to long term care you're far from alone. Many elders don't have children; others (like me) won't be making USE of their children. Should they be able to they hire a Fiduciary to help them; if they cannot afford this they may become a part of the state system for guardianship which usually happens through their medical teams. They develop NOW friends and a supportive community around themselves.
That said, your medical team will guide you to social services and etc to help you.
This is a for profit country and much will depend upon how lucky and how diligent you have been in saving for aging. If you have funds you will be able to hire in help for a good long time.
If not, you will require care, and what care is available to you will almost be entirely dependent on the savings you gather over a lifetime.
I wish you luck. Here are a few things to think about.
1. Whether or not you are a person of faith, many faith-based communities are a wealth of love and care to their members. Consider joining a Church. The Unitarians are quite non- denominational.
2. Such organizations as On Lok and The Village are in large cities. You can start going to their functions for social support, food support and to PROVIDE support for others while you are able, thus giving yourself a good BASE to rely on when you yourself need support.
3. Maintain good health. You know how to do that. It means you don't smoke, you eat a good balanced diet and you never stop moving. I am 81 and I am still caring for myself and daily active in my garden, walking, etc. Some of health is the luck of the draw genetics wise. MOST OF IT is the determination to "live right" medically.
4. Get the best supplemental insurance available to you. In crisis this is going to get the social workers calling YOU, not you calling them. I swear by Kaiser. Others don't. You must explore your own.
I wish you nothing but good luck. We all eventually are alone. My partner and I are 81 and 83 respectively. Elizabeth and many others here are in their 80s, knowing their time healthy and together is limited. I will not be depending upon my children, who live states away, for care; in fact it would shatter me to think they would spend the best years of their freedom caring for me; they know better than to do so.
Take good care, and on you go. You are THINKING about all this and that's one very important and WISE thing to do!