Long‑term care can be expensive. But trying to “cheat the system” isn’t the answer. Medicaid nursing homes are designed for people in poverty. If you have the means to plan ahead, don’t rely on welfare as your retirement strategy. Here’s what you can do instead: 1. Buy long‑term care insurance to cover future nursing home costs. 2. Keep building wealth so you can self‑insure and choose better care. 3. Understand the law. Your home and some retirement funds are often protected if one spouse needs