Preparing For Tomorrow podcast

We all want to wait as long as we can to buy LTC insurance. Too often, health concerns diminish or eliminate what can be offered. In this week's episode, Diane shares consequences that show up when our parent's health and care needs interfere with our ability to plan well. If we implement and start paying the premiums earlier, we can fully fund our policies before mom or dad needs our money and/or...

This week we turn independence upside down. We think we're independent when we can live and receive care in our homes, but that forces our family to reshape their lives to support our progressing needs. Then families feel really bad when they realize they can't do it - they never knew how much work and time it takes. So many parents beg their children to never "put" them somewhere. Or when the sub...

In almost three decades, I've been asked to leave, I've been hung up on, I've been sworn at and more. But only one person actually got up and walked out of the meeting. This week, I'm talking about dads. The 82 year olds and the 32 year olds and how the role is changing for the better, in my opinion. Men are stepping up to help more with the kids and to just be present for them. It's a choice. It'...

This week, we learn about how state LTC Partnership programs started and how they developed over time to include most states. What is Long Term care Partnership? Why is this an effective way to help middle income and middle asset families protect savings when long term care is needed. Who benefits from these kinds of plans? The American Association for Long Term Care Advocacy has a ton of inormati...

People sometimes ask how I got involved in LTC insurance and how do I feel always talking about getting old or sick because it's so depressing. Here's how long term care and LTC insurance showed up in my life and why I am committted to stay. Review both current and projected costs of care where you live https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Please use 5% COLA for projections. If we think the care...

LTC insurance claims are hard to get approved because so many claims are not actually long term care. When a claim is declined, the family becomes disgruntled and angry at the insurance company. Usually the problem is what the providers/doctors, facilities are reporting when filing the claim. LTC News reported over $15 billion was paid in claims in 2024. See the details at https://www.ltcnews.com/...

This week, we discuss the costs of dementia care vs. other long term care needs. Too many believe Medicare pays for care after age 65. Medicare may pay for up to 100 days if skilled care is also needed to help recovery from a hospitalization/procedure, and if you've been in the hosptal at least three nights. At age 80, 75% of people with Alzheimer's disease live in nursing homes while 4% of others...

As baby boomers reach age 80 this year, with the immigrant population in the US diminishing, and seeing the almost 80% turnover of employees in home care, assisted living and nursing home care, we are getting ever closer to the Silver Tsunami. Even today, we don't have enough licensed care givers to meet the need of our aging population. That's before we consider the massive need for geriatricians...

In the U.S., almost 13 million unpaid/family caregivers are caring for someone with dementia right now. Many are doihng this without help or support from other family members. Most family caregivers are women who live with the dementia patient. 1/4 have kids they are also providing for, placing them in the "sandwich generation". 30% of family caregivers are 65 and older, many with health concerns...

Esther Greenhouse is an environmental gerontologist and longevity strategist who helps people stay independent as they age - physically and financially. As president of Silver to Gold Strategies, she advises financial and long-term care propgrams on reducing preventable caregiving needs and costs. Her Enabling Design Method has shaped national age-friendly initiatives and helped her own mother age...

The Alzheimer's Association released a Special Report that updates dementia and dementia care information. I have on;y read about 1/3 of the info so far, so I expect I'll have a lot more to share over the nexrt several weeks. The industry is getting better at discovering, diagnosing, and managing dementia. I tried to get a link to the report, but I can't find it. The title is "2026 Alzheimer's Dis...

We need to decide if we're going to make our own care decisions when we can no longer live alone or independantly. Or are we going to leave those decisions to a governement employee who must follow whatever the current government decides is approved for your care. Medicaid is being gutted, so please don't believe that you can rely on that at your most critial time in life. Please check out the lin...

Professionals in geriatrics and gerontology define "elderly" and "advanced age" as 65 and older and those with chronic needs. It's hard to believe I'm almost elderly?!? The fact that there are professional specialties and new Ai tools, websites, apps and software programs focusing on this enormous age group should indicate to us younger than 60 to prepare for those days ahead of us. There are peop...

A client with whom I've maintained a relationship for over a decade was almost talked into buying a new LTC plan earlier this year. I'm glad she called me to ask for help! I researched her risk and offered a very similar plan with significantly lower rates. Research is the key to finding the best plans for your family. When you are offered a quote for LTC insurance, ask the person quoting you how...

Don't let your 50 year old kids regret not having planned for future extended care needs when they first thought of it. A first question I ask when meeting with someone is "What made you decide to look into LTC planning now?" Far too many reply with some form of having thought about this years ago, but for whatever reason they came up with, they decided to wait. Now, the plans we're considering co...

This week, I'm sharing a story of what happened when I was walking my dog on Saturday. This can happen to anyone. We don't have to be old or sick to have an accident. So many people wait to buy LTC insurance because it's for old people, but 1/3 of people receiving care today are under age 65. And we need to be healthy enough to qualify for coverage. If we wait until after an accident, or a diagnos...

According to an AARP report, the Department of Health and Human Services reported a 48% increase in cost for home care and assisted living from 2019-2024, while median household income for families 65 and older rose only 22%. That's an average 8% annual increase! And people doubt when we use 5% annual increases to project future needs.... View a summary of the report here See what current and proj...

This week, I received a very disturbing call, and this was soon after I met a man whose job is to protect people (mostly seniors) from scams. I'm so glad that a woman reached out to me for guidance before spending over half of her mom's little bit of savings she needed for her care. Listen and learn, then schedule time with me to prepare for your tomorrow. When we're prepared, we're less likely to...

We need to believe that we're going to get through these world events that are being thrown at us every day. We have to believe that we're going to live a long life. When we live a long life, we get old, and when we get old we need help. The massage today is short, and I hope it encourages each of you to continue planning to protect those you care about most. The new 2025 Cost of Care updates were...

Just like when we go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, our eyes are bigger than our stomach. With LTC protection, bigger than our budget. We want the best policy that will pay for everything we need for as long as we need care, but our income and savings say we can afford something with less coverage. Or we apply as a couple and one is declined for health. Does this mean we don't get any coverage at a...

I get so many calls from families trying to find caregiving support answers for their older parent or relative. They've reached a point where they are overwhelmed and need help providing for their loved one. This is not the time to look for insurance. The choices are limited and have higher costs because at age 75 or 80, we're close to or at the age when the insurance companies think we'll open a...

Many people inquire about LTC insurance and unfortunately get incorrect or incomplete information. This is why it's important to work with a LTC Planning Specialist, like me, who studies this continually. Years ago, there were a lot more companies offering LTC insurance, but all the plans looked and worked very similarly. Today, there are less companies offering this insurance, but these companies...

Providing care for a very sick, injured or elderly family member is hard! Especially without help. There are currently over 50 million family caregivers sacrificing their time, family, health and future to provide that care. LTC insurance is not designed to replace you; it's there to help you be able to help without hurting yourself or getting overwhelmed from doing it alone. Who is going to pay f...

Jason Dutra with BuddyIns joins us this week to share a case study on worksite LTC benefits. There are companies that will offer guaranteed issue (no health questions) hybrid life/LTC plans to a company with as few as 3 employees. Listen and learn if this is a tool you would like to offer, or that you would like your employer to offer. Then schedule an introductory meeting with me to discuss optio...

Hello to all our new and returning listeners! Because we've had a large increase in listeners, I thought I'd share what we discuss during our initial consultation (which costs you only time). It's good for long time listeners to get a refresher as well. Our first meeting, via phone or Zoom and sometmes in person, is mostly educational. It's impossible to make a decision on something as important a...