Frequently Asked Questions

These three types of planning address different, but related, questions about your future. Estate planning primarily answers the question: What happens to your resources when you die? It includes wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and beneficiary designations. The goal is to transfer assets, avoid unnecessary court involvement, and carry out your wishes. It is essential, but largely focuses on death. Longterm care planning expands the focus by asking: What happens if I need help while I am living? This type of planning addresses how care will be provided and paid for. It considers contingencies like whether care will be provided at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility. It often includes Medicaid planning, asset protection strategies, and coordinating resources to make care affordable. This matters because care needs are common. In 2026, Someone turning 65 has nearly a 70% chance of needing long-term care, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with clinical Alzheimer’s dementia. Life care planning builds on both and focuses on: How do we manage care and decision-making now and over time with a chronic or progressive illness? It looks beyond documents and costs to address: Accessing and coordinating quality care Supporting family members involved in care Planning for transitions between levels of care Maintaining independence and stability as needs change Life care planning is a team-based approach that addresses care and planning decisions in real time. It recognizes that many people live for years with conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s, adapts as needs change, and helps families carry out the plan so they are not left to navigate the system alone.

The best time to create a life care plan is when there is a chronic condition, but before there is a crisis. Life care planning is designed to support people over time, especially when there is a risk of chronic illness, increasing care needs, or caregiver strain. Many families wait until a diagnosis, hospitalization, or sudden decline and are forced into urgent decisions. Planning under pressure often limits options and adds stress for everyone involved. You should consider creating a life care plan if: You or a loved one has been diagnosed with a chronic or progressive condition such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or after a stroke You are noticing changes in memory, seeing falls, or are struggling with managing medications or daily activities A spouse or adult child has taken on a caregiving role, and the demands are increasing You want to stay at home as long as possible but are unsure how to plan for care You want clarity and coordination instead of reacting to emergencies Life care planning works best when it is starts early and is revisited often. Starting early allows families to: Preserve more choices about care Reduce financial and emotional strain Protect your dignity and independence Support caregivers before burnout occurs Smooth transitions if care needs change The need for care is more common than many families expect. Someone turning 65 today has nearly a 70% chance of needing long-term care, and millions of older adults are already living with conditions like Alzheimer’s that often require years of support. Because these conditions develop gradually, early planning allows families to prepare thoughtfully and thoroughly rather than react in a crisis.