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- Basic Needs   - Understanding Long-Term Care
  - What is Long-Term Care?
  - Long-Term Care Pathfinder
  - Who Needs Care?
  - How Much Care Will You Need?
  - Who Will Provide Your Care?
  - Where Can You Receive Care?
  - Finding Local Services
  - Who is in Charge? Radio PSAs
- Costs & Who Pays   - Overview
  - Who Pays for Long-Term Care?
  - Costs of Care
  - What is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance?
  - What is Long-Term Care Insurance?
  - Paying Privately
- Medicare, Medicaid & More   - Overview
  - Medicare
  - Medicaid
  - Veterans Affairs Benefits
  - Other State Programs
- Housing   - Where You Live Matters
  - Staying in Your Home
  - Living in a Facility
- Legal Steps   - How to Decide
  - Advance Care Plan Considerations
  - Will I Need a Lawyer?
  - Legal Steps for Medical Well-being
  - Legal Steps for Financial Well-being

Welcome to

LongTermCare.gov

            -  Home 
            -  LTC Home 
            -  Basic Needs 
            -  Long-Term Care Pathfinder 
            -                   Planning Ahead Before Age 50              

# Planning Ahead Before Age 50

## Basic Needs

                    -  Understanding Long-Term Care 
                    -  What is Long-Term Care? 
                    -  Long-Term Care Pathfinder                        -  Planning Ahead Before Age 50 
                      -  Planning Ahead Between the Ages of 51 and 64 
                      -  Planning Ahead After Age 65 
                      -  Planning for Dementia 
                      -  Planning for LGBT Adults 
                      -  Already Receiving Long-Term Care 
                    -  Who Needs Care? 
                    -  How Much Care Will You Need? 
                    -  Who Will Provide Your Care? 
                    -  Where Can You Receive Care? 
                    -  Finding Local Services 
                    -  Who is in Charge? Radio PSAs 

It's never too early to start planning for your long-term care. If you're younger than 50, there are just a few simple things that **you should know** and **can do** today, that will make tomorrow a whole lot easier.

## Things To Know

                  - Medicare  only  pays for long-term care if you require skilled services or rehabilitative care and Medicare  does not  pay for non-skilled assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), which make up the majority of long-term care services. Read the section on Medicare for more information.
                  - Long-term-care is more expensive than you may think and you will likely be responsible for paying for the care you will require. Start thinking about how you will pay for the care you may need. Refer to the  Costs & How to Pay  section for further information.
                  - By creating an Advanced Care Directive you can inform your family or loved ones about how to make important health decisions for you, should you no longer be able to make those decisions for yourself. Consult the  Advance Care Plan Considerations  page for more information.
                  - There are many different ways to receive care and many different settings in which to receive it. To learn more about different care setting, see the  Where You Can Receive Care  section of the site.
                  - Where you live matters – your ability to stay at home may depend on the layout of your home, especially the bathrooms. Refer to the  Staying in Your Home  page for ideas.

## Things You Can Do

                  - Plan how you will pay for care:                     - Costs of Care
                    - What is Long-term care Insurance
                    - Using Life Insurance to Pay for Long-term Care
                    - Annuities
                    - Paying Privately 
                  - Draft Advanced Directives so your care wishes are known to your friends and family:  Advanced Care Plan Considerations
                  - If you own your home determine your housing options, including options to age in place.
                  - Take steps to support your physical health, including your  brain health .

*Last modified on 05/10/2022*

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