What is long term care?

Long term care (LTC) provides assistance with basic activities of daily living (ADLs) we often take for granted — bathing, dressing, eating, transferring (such as moving from a bed to a chair), toileting, and continence. LTC could be needed because of an accident, illness, cognitive issue, or as a result of aging.


The progression towards needing LTC can go hand-in-hand with the struggle to maintain your independence. LTC insurance can give you time to weigh your options by providing the ability to pay for extended home care or facility care if needed.


You may qualify for LTC insurance benefits if a licensed health care practitioner certifies that you are unable to perform two or more ADLs by yourself for a period that is expected to last at least 90 days or require substantial supervision if you suffer from a severe cognitive impairment.


When it comes to the long term, most of us want to make sure our family, our lifestyle and our future are as secure as possible.


A few other points to consider:

  • Reduce financial impact on your family LTC insurance can help reduce the financial responsibilities of those who you would need to rely on to take care of you.
  • Maintain your control Create more options for how and where you receive care and who provides that care.
  • Extend and protect your savings Make up the difference between what you have available in retirement savings and income and what you’ll need to pay.

What motivates you?*

The top 3 reasons people buy long term care insurance:

“To not place the burden on my family”

“To be able to afford quality care in the setting I choose”

“To protect my spouse’s and loved ones’ quality of life and future security”


*Online Focus Groups conducted by Genworth Customer Insights Team, October 2015.

Living a long life is a probability, and planning for it is a necessity.