Studies of demographic data show that 30 to 50 percent of Americans who make it to age 65 will eventually need to be cared for in an Assisted Living Facility. These same studies demonstrate that almost 50% of women in the U.S. will require this type of care.

When planning for retirement, most of us think about where we want to live, how much we want to travel, how we want to spend our days, and how we’re going to pay for it all - but far too many of us fail to consider the costs associated with changes in our health.

The problem isn’t in becoming sick and dying, the financial risk stems from surviving an illness and then requiring long-term care. Women are more likely to experience the latter scenario, so it is imperative that you plan for this possibility, so you don’t deplete your retirement savings or greatly reduce the value of your estate.