While the cost to receive long term care services at home with a home health aide has increased nationally, these costs in Georgia have remained flat, according to Genworth's 13th annual Cost of Care Study. Home is where most Americans receive long term care.

Overall, long term care costs across all care settings in Georgia, including home care, adult day services, assisted living and nursing facilities, are up from 2015.

"Although home care costs are much less expensive than those in facility-based settings, the costs can add up to as much as $41,184 per year in Georgia, which is why it's imperative for consumers to begin planning now for how they will pay for that care should they need it," said Tom McInerney, president and chief executive officer at Genworth, noting that at least 70 percent of Americans over age 65 will need some form of long term care services and support during their lives.

"The annual Cost of Care study is our way of helping Americans fully understand the financial implications of long term care so that they can plan ahead and, when the time comes, focus on getting the best care without the worry and stress of how they're going to pay for it," he said.

Cost of Care Statistics for Georgia

Key Metro Area Trends

Cost of care trends are also measured at the local level. Key trends in major metropolitan areas in Georgia include:

• Atlanta metro area: Home health aide costs are 13.57 percent less expensive in the Atlanta metro area than the national average, at $3,337 per month

• Augusta metro area: Homemaker services costs are 12.48 percent less expensive in the Augusta metro area than the national average, at $3,337 per month

• Columbus: The cost of adult day services is 17.65 percent less expensive in Columbus than the national average, at $1,213 per month

Resources for Understanding and Funding Care Options
As costs continue to rise, the focus on solutions that can help consumers plan for and fund long term care has also increased. Consumers should educate themselves on the numerous options for funding care, which can range from self-funding to government assistance to long term care insurance.

• Download Genworth's Cost of Care App from iTunes.

• Saving for long term care on your own can be difficult and take years to accumulate funds. To learn more information and see if self-funding will take care of your long term care needs please visit www.genworth.com/long-term-care-insurance/source/make-a-plan/payment-options/self-funded.html.

• Medicare pays for long term care if you require skilled services or rehabilitative care such as in a nursing home (max 100 days) and at home if you are also receiving skilled home health or other skilled in-home services (provided for a short period of time). For more information please visit longtermcare.gov.

• Medicaid covers a large share of long term care services but to qualify your income must be below a certain level and you must meet minimum state eligibility requirements and be in a Medicaid-approved facility. For more information please visit Medicaid.gov.

• If you qualify, private payment options such as long term care insurance products are available. For more planning options, please visit genworth.com.

• Beyond traditional insurance products, a single premium immediate need annuity can be purchased by older, less healthy Americans or their families to provide a guaranteed lifetime source of income that can be used to pay for care or other expenses. Learn more here: www.genworth.com/products/immediate-need-annuity.html.

• The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) provides a wide range of advisory resources for Americans who have questions about aging.