Couples are more likely to need long term care than singles. While this statement contradicts conventional thinking that being part of a couple is a much healthier state than going solo, it’s simple logic, according to Manulife Financial.

The more people in a group, the more likely a given event will occur to an individual within that group. If that event is the need for long term care, the probability that at least one member of a couple will need long term care is greater than it would be for an individual.

Research by reinsurance company Munich Re shows that two 60-year-olds who form a couple have an 81.5% chance that at least one of them will require long term care in their lifetime, as opposed to 48.4% for an individual male and 64.2% for an individual female.

Experts such as Montreal-based gerontologist, Dr. Rubin Becker, point out that “the probability of needing long term care is high among couples, especially the female partner. Females typically outlive their male counterparts and are often left alone without a caregiver. They also tend to have greater long term care needs due to their advanced age,” explains Becker. “Women can also face retirement savings short- falls, especially if significant retirement funds were spent in prior years to support their partner’s care.”

According to Becker, the need to fund long term care is definitely a risk to consider. “There is a very strong likelihood that those who live to age 85 or beyond will require some form of long term care. Yet, it’s rare to see people plan accordingly. They struggle to visualize what care they will require and, in turn, find care costs much higher than imagined.”

Manulife says its new long term care product, LivingCare, gives couples the flexibility to draw from a common “pool” of money if either (or both) of them need long term care, such as nursing care or home care services, in the future.