As we age, maintaining independence can become challenging, especially for our parents or loved ones. For many, the need for help with day-to-day activities can gradually increase, which can put a strain on families, both emotionally and financially. Long-term care insurance or a rider on a life insurance policy can provide financial support when help is needed with two or more of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). This type of insurance can be a lifeline, especially when the responsibility of caregiving falls on family members.
Below, we explore each ADL, sharing practical examples to illustrate the importance of having a safety net in place. If you have parents or family members in their later years, this information may help you consider options to protect them—and yourself.
Activities of Daily Living and Cognitive Impairment
| Activities of Daily Living | Description |
|---|---|
| Bathing | This means the ability to wash oneself by taking a shower or a bath. It includes the ability to get in and out of the shower or tub. Bathing could also mean taking a sponge bath. |
| Dressing | This means the ability to take off and put on all items of clothing or any other devices used such as a brace. |
| Toileting | This is the ability to get to and from the toilet, get on and off of it and the ability to perform any needed hygiene associated with toileting. |
| Transferring | This is the ability to move in and out of a chair or bed. |
| Continence | This is the ability to control one’s bowel and bladder. If one is not able to do this, it means the ability to perform the necessary hygiene if the individual is incontinent. |
| Eating | This is the ability to feed oneself, such as getting the food from a plate or bowl into one’s mouth. This does not include meal preparation. |
Cognitive Impairment
In addition to needing help with ADLs, long-term care insurance policies often trigger when a policyholder suffers from a cognitive condition that causes significant deterioration or loss of intellectual ability, where constant supervision or care is required.
Let’s dive into each ADL, with some real-life examples of when assistance may be necessary.
Bathing
Imagine your mother is recovering from hip surgery. She’s unable to step into the shower safely without the risk of falling. She needs assistance to enter and exit the shower safely, and perhaps even needs help with washing herself, especially in the initial weeks post-surgery.
In this scenario, needing assistance with bathing can quickly become essential. Many seniors with limited mobility or those recovering from surgery find bathing alone too dangerous. Long-term care insurance can help cover the costs of in-home help or a care facility where assistance is provided.
Dressing
Consider your father, who has arthritis. On some days, he struggles to button his shirt, fasten his belt, or put on socks without significant pain.
Dressing requires fine motor skills and balance, which can be challenging for individuals with arthritis or Parkinson’s. If dressing independently becomes difficult, long-term care insurance can provide access to caregivers who assist with daily routines.
Toileting
After a stroke, a loved one may find it difficult to get to the toilet, sit down, or stand up safely, let alone manage the necessary hygiene afterward.
Toileting assistance is crucial for maintaining dignity, but it can be one of the hardest tasks for family members to manage. Long-term care coverage can help fund professional caregivers who handle this need respectfully and professionally.
Transferring
Imagine that your parent has had a fall and now struggles with moving from their bed to a chair without assistance.
Transferring between positions—like from bed to a wheelchair or chair to standing—becomes risky when mobility decreases. Needing help with transferring is common for those with limited strength or balance, and insurance can provide access to trained aides who can assist safely.
Continence
Incontinence can be challenging for many reasons, including embarrassment and the risk of infection if proper hygiene isn’t maintained.
Loss of continence is a common issue in aging, particularly for those with neurological conditions. Caregivers trained in managing continence care can help loved ones maintain cleanliness and dignity, while insurance helps cover this cost.
Eating
If your mother’s arthritis has made it difficult to hold utensils, she may require help to eat her meals.
While this doesn’t involve cooking or preparing meals, assistance with eating ensures that your loved ones are nourished and able to eat without discomfort or frustration. Caregivers can assist with feeding as part of daily care.
Why Long-Term Care Insurance or Life Insurance Riders Matter
As family members, we want to provide the best care for our loved ones, but the demands of caregiving can be overwhelming—both emotionally and financially. Long-term care insurance, or a life insurance policy with a long-term care rider, is designed to help cover these expenses so that you aren’t left bearing the burden alone. These policies often pay out when the insured person needs help with two or more ADLs, or if they experience cognitive impairment.
One unique benefit of a combination life and long-term care policy is that it can provide financial benefits whether long-term care is needed or not. If your loved one never requires long-term care, the policy still pays a death benefit. This dual function means you get value either way—whether through long-term care benefits or a legacy left behind.
Consider taking a proactive step today. Reach out to us at Insuring Income to explore options, review proposals, and determine the best plan for your family’s needs. Click the link below to get started.
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