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It’s never too early for a senior, or anyone planning for their retirement, to seek help from experts on how to avoid outliving their savings, according to Diane Menio, executive director of the Philadelphiabased Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, or CARIE.

“The reality is that longterm care is extremely expensive, whether you’re getting it at home or in a facility. Probably, you can save a little bit being at home, but it’s very expensive,” she said.

“People who are at home often will spend their money, and they may not have had to. It might be just because they didn’t understand they were eligible

for some support, which is sad,” said Menio.

Every situation is unique, Menio said, but she said CARIE often sees seniors who will go into an assisted living facility or personal care home first, spend what savings they have there, then not have enough for a nursing home later in life.

“Medicare only covers for skilled care, and this is both in a nursing home or rehabilitation facility, and in the home, and they only cover if someone’s been in the hospital — they can get up to 100 days of coverage, and that’s skilled care, not long-term care,” said Menio.

“If someone needs longterm care, unless the people have long-term care insurance, or something like that, there’s probably not much that will pay for that,