Medical and other technological breakthroughs, people are living longer. Living longer does not mean you are in good health.

There may be an extended transition from the quality of life to needing activities of daily living caregiving (eating, bathing, dressing transitioning, or cognitive disease).

People often assume that they can delay getting their financial affairs in order, meaning waiting for frailty, accident, or illness before planning your personal documents and caregiving decisions.

It is probable that as we age, we will become frail, have an illness, or an accident will require activities of daily living care for an extended period of time.

Cost of living will increase because caregiving for home and care center expenses are rising. Most people begin caregiving at home, which is between $1,000 to $4,000 per month, depending on the hours a care aide or nursing aide care is needed. The current average cost for a semi-private room in a nursing home is $93,000 annually.

Having the conversation about owning a long-term care plan is of value to you, your family, and your money (estate plan.)

Living longer may mean that you are living without your spouse or partner. What will be your care plan if you do not have a plan for care support?

The best way to avoid a financial and family crisis with caregiving is to have a caregiving plan in advance long before caregiving is needed.

How to avoid caregiving worry?

Each of us must have a caregiving plan. Creating a plan reduces the worry and simplifies the process of thinking through what you will do if this or that happens can make the unknowns feel less daunting.

The easiest way to guarantee that you implement your plan is to create it incrementally. There is no requirement you have to do it quickly.

Have deadlines and milestones for yourself, and then enlist someone to make sure you accomplish them.

Consider hiring a professional organizer. A competent organization will ensure you execute your plans and achieve your milestones.

Dealing with the business of life is no different. If you want to worry less, make a Life Transition Plan and implement it. And if you want that to happen, hold yourself accountable.

Taking the time to plan for your own or your parents’ long-term-care needs will reduce the inevitable stress when the time comes.

You will want to be comfortable with the available resources to help yourself or your parents, and you will have to prepare to pay for it.

Should you have siblings. It helps if there is an understanding or agreement on how each sibling will contribute to your parents’ care. Caregiving is ‘always about money,’ which means if you and your parents own a long-term care plan, your family or friends will supervise your care but not have to be solely responsible for your daily caregiving services.