Aging News

2004 Preview

It Takes Special Planning

Time and time again we get calls from people in the midst of crisis. For example, one day a man called pursuing local nursing home placement for his mother. To make a long story short, his mother had lived in an out-of-state nursing home for seven years, a short distance away from her youngest son. The unexpected death of that son prompted a move to be near her remaining son. When asked how much money she had to work with, he said “We need to do some planning. She’s gone through $400,000 in that nursing home and only has $20,000 left.”

The moral of the story?

Planning takes place at the beginning. When you have resources --- money and supports --- you have choices. You are marketable to your preferred programs that often seek private pay clients to maintain their operating costs.

What are the options available to pay for such tremendous costs of long term care?

1) Private Funds – spend your life savings until they are depleted.

2) Medicaid – spend down savings to poverty levels and apply for assistance

3) Long Term Care Insurance

Insurance professionals understand insurance. Healthcare professionals understand the long-term care system. There are very few nationwide professionals who have a solid understanding of insurance AND long term care.

For detailed information on Medicare, Medicaid and other issues, visit our website at www.elderplanning.com.

Is LTC Insurance Right for You?

We have over twenty years of direct experience in the long term care system. Specializing in Long Term Care (LTC) insurance,

We offer objective, accurate and up-to-date information. Not only can we help you choose the best policy, we assist with the eventual claims process as well as the actual coordination of benefits. Simplify the maze of uncertainty and contact us for a free quote. Find out what is available to you based on your personal goals and budget.

If it’s too late for LTC insurance for you, there may still be some planning techniques that can help you to expand the choices available to you when the time comes to face transitions.

Call Elderplanning to find out if there are things you can do to plan for the inevitable changes associated with aging. There is no charge for an insurance consultation and there is never a charge for an initial phone call.

For an informational packet call toll free (877) 243-4436

or contact us by email at kate@elderplanning.com.

Divorcing After 45 Years?!

An elderly man in Phoenix calls his son in New York and says, "I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough."

"Pop, what are you talking about?" the son screams.

"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says. "We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her." and he hangs up.

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone, "Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at the old man, "You are NOT getting divorced! Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?" and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. "Okay," he grins, "They're coming for the weekend ---

And THIS time they’re paying their own airfares!"