The following educational materials are available to help teach planning for long-term care nationwide. These materials were developed by University of Illinois Extension; please give credit to University of Illinois Extension when using them.
Originally this educational program was taught as a day-long workshop to help individuals and families plan effectively for their needs as aging adults. When people have time to plan for long-term care needs thoughtfully they increase their accessibility to options and make better choices. The workshop addresses the following objectives:
- increase people’s awareness of the wide-range of housing options for older adults;
- encourage caregivers to take care of themselves so that they can continue to provide caregiving services;
- provide family members with strategies and tools to manage emotions and communication challenges; and
- help people assess their financing options for long-term care.
Four, interrelated lessons are taught during the workshop:
Families Talking Together
When planning for long-term care, be aware that relationships are impacted by caregiving. This session explores family dynamics and identifies ways families can plan ahead to manage changing relationships.
Later Life Housing Options
Evaluating your later life housing needs and wants is not an easy task. This session will help you explore whether to stay in an existing home or move, how to modify your home to safely age in place, and housing options including retirement communities, assisted living, and nursing homes.
Caring for the Caregiver
Caring for someone can be a challenging experience. Find out how to recognize caregiver stress, learn ways to prevent burnout, and discover where to get respite and other help.
Financing Long-Term Care
Explore the latest pros and cons in long-term care insurance, savings and investments, reverse mortgages, and home equity loans. Learn how to incorporate long-term care into an overall retirement plan.
