Depending on who cares for you, where you receive care, and how long you need long term care, your cost can range from very little to hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you require only a bit of assistance with bathing or dressing, if you need assistance for a relatively short time, and if your family members take you into their own home, the cost of long term care may not be a huge drain on your finances. While you might be able to predict a family member's availability and willingness to care for you, no one can predict the kind, the intensity, or the duration of care you'll need. In planning for long term care, consider how you would pay for the most costly scenario - a long period of care provided by professionals. In New York, in 1997, private long term care costs are represented by the following average figures.
Costs are higher in New York City and Long Island.
Costs also change from year to year. Investigate the specific costs of various long term care services offered in your community. Note that all figures above are 1997.