What Is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care refers to the ongoing support and services needed when you can no longer fully care for yourself independently.

This is not the same as traditional medical care.

Instead, it includes assistance with everyday activities such as:

• Bathing, dressing, and personal care 

• Meal preparation and household tasks 

• Mobility and supervision 

• Memory care and cognitive support 

It can be provided in a variety of settings, including:

• Your home (in-home care) 

• Assisted living communities 

• Skilled nursing facilities 

It’s also important to understand: Medicare generally does not cover the cost of long-term care.

The Lifestyle Decisions Behind Long-Term Care

Living in retirement is no small decision. The decision itself comes with questions like:

• Do you live closer to family? 

• Do you move to a retirement community for social engagement or future care? 

• Do you stay in your home and maintain independence as long as possible? 

Each of these paths has different financial planning implications.

We help you evaluate these choices and understand how they impact your retirement plan—so your decisions are intentional, not reactive.

The Challenge: An Unknown Expense

Unlike most expenses in retirement, long-term care is different:

• The timing is uncertain

• The cost can vary widely

• The need may never arise—or may be significant

Because of this ambiguity, many retirees—despite having solid financial plans—default to caution.

They spend less. Delay decisions. Hold back. Not because they need to—but because of the fear of the unknown.

What Does Long-Term Care Cost in Charlottesville, VA?

Long-term care isn’t just an abstract risk—it comes with real, measurable costs that can significantly impact your retirement plan.

Here’s what care can look like in and around Charlottesville:

• In-home care: ~$4,700/month on average in Virginia¹ 

• Assisted living: ~$5,100–$5,500/month in Charlottesville² 

• Memory care: Often $7,000–$8,000+/month depending on needs¹ 

• Nursing home care: $8,000–$12,000+/month depending on level of care¹ 

On an annual basis, this can mean:

• $60,000–$80,000 per year for assisted living 

• $100,000+ per year for more advanced care needs³

¹ SeniorTruth – Virginia Home Care Costshttps://www.seniortruth.com/cost/home-care/virginia

² AssistedLiving.org – Charlottesville Cost of Carehttps://www.assistedliving.org/virginia/charlottesville/

³ CareScout / Cost of Care Data (via Business Wire / Morningstar)https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260302515505/carescout-releases-2025-cost-of-care-data-for-virginia

Planning for Care Without Sacrificing Today

Our approach to retirement planning is designed to account for this uncertainty—without letting it dictate your lifestyle.

We help you evaluate:

• The role of self-funding care from your assets 

• Whether long-term care insurance or hybrid solutions make sense 

• How different scenarios impact your income, investments, and legacy 

The goal isn’t to eliminate uncertainty—it’s to plan for it in a way that allows you to live fully today.

How Long-Term Care Fits Into Your Retirement Plan

Long-term care planning is closely connected to:

• Retirement income planning

• Healthcare planning

• Investment management decisions

• Estate and legacy planning

As your financial advisor, we bring these elements together into a coordinated retirement planning strategy—so your plan is prepared for both the expected and the unknown.

Build a Plan That Prepares You—Without Holding You Back

Long-term care planning isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about preparing for it—so uncertainty doesn’t limit how you live today.