You're making the assumption that you and the OPs kids will actually amount to something when they're older. On the other hand, if you take in your minimum wage making, lazy-ass, uneducated daughter or son and coddle them through their adult lives, then they aren't going to have enough money or caring to put you in one of those nicer nursing homes NOT featured on 20/20 anyway. But you will be able to take solace in the fact that, at least they won't have an inheritance since it'll all be spent on your own healthcare. And thus you end up with a future generation living on the social support system. Once that hole is dug, I've heard it's pretty hard to dig out of... may take a few more generations to get another financially independent contributor to society from that family tree.