Why Are People Buying LTC Insurance
It used to be just a way to prevent spending your entire life’s savings on Long-Term Care costs. LTC insurance still does that, using just the interest on a bit of your savings to pay the premium versus spending the entire account on care. There is a much more compelling reason today. Medicaid, a welfare […]
Annie’s Mailbox on Families Caring for Parents
Caregiver deserves a break (Annie’s Mailbox) Dear Annie: I am 63, and I help daily with my 94-year-old mother, who lives by herself. I run errands, and I keep her yard nice. I have a brother and sister who live out of state. They come back to visit from time to time. When they do […]
You’re Probably Going to Need Medicaid
The Opinion Pages | The New York Times OP-ED CONTRIBUTORS By DAVID GRABOWSKI, JONATHAN GRUBER and VINCENT MOR Imagine your mother needs to move into a nursing home. It’s going to cost her almost $100,000 a year. Very few people have private insurance to cover this. Your mother will most likely run out her savings until she qualifies for Medicaid. This […]
Alzheimer’s Progression: Is It Possible to Predict?
Experts estimate that specialized physicians now have the tools to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease with more than 90 percent accuracy. That fact sent me in search of data on symptoms, and when and in what order they are likely to occur after diagnosis. About 15 months ago, my husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I continue […]
Alzheimer’s Deaths Increased By Over 50% From 1999 to 2014
Reuters News Service reports that U.S. deaths from Alzheimer’s disease rose by more than 50 percent from 1999 to 2014, and rates are expected to continue to rise, reflecting the nation’s aging population and increasing life expectancy, American researchers said on Thursday. Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for […]
1.4 million U.S. Children Are Caregivers For Parents
According to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 22% of high school “children” dropouts cite caregiving as the reason for leaving school. Melinda Kavanaugh is one of only a few scholars around the country studying the physical and psychological well-being of these young people who are left out of other caregiver studies. Her work focuses […]
May is Disability Awareness Month – Does Long Term Care Keep You Up at Night?
Becoming disabled from sickness or accident and unable to work is a significant problem for many. Once retired you might think this is no longer a concern. But what if you became disabled enough to need assistance with bathing, or dressing, or moving about (arthritis)? 50% of Long Term Care is due to dementia, something […]
Helping Solve Problems Over the Telephone
It’s been another fun day helping folks solve problems with Long Term Care. The first call came in early this morning. The man was referred to me by an attorney. His father is in an assisted living facility, and has been spending down his life’s savings. With very little left, the facility suggested he find […]
Have You Ignored the Most Expensive Risk You Face?
How can anyone in their right mind ignore the probability of an expensive and extensive need for care in later life? I’ll explain how and why this is so often ignored by consumers and financial advisors after some explanations. No matter how well you have constructed your pans for retirement and the disposition of your […]
Do I need Help, or Am I Okay On My Own Yet?
A few days ago I got a call from an elderly client who had purchased long-term care (LTC) insurance many years ago. The client wanted to know what type of care it would pay for if they needed help. I inquired about health and ability to do everyday things around the house and received a […]
