Many baby boomers are at the point in their lives where their children have moved out, and their parents are moving in. Maybe one parent died, maybe Mom never purchased a long-term care policy and is beginning to need help with day-to-day tasks, or maybe Dad is starting to be forgetful. Whatever your family’s current situation is as a caregiver, know that you are not alone. There are many hardships people usually expect when becoming a caretaker for a loved one, such as helping with dressing, doling out medications or adding grab bars to the shower. There are equally as many hardships people do not expect, and LTC Consumer has compiled five of those items here. Continue reading
Keeping Seniors Safe in Hot Weather
‘Tis the season for dehydration, heat stroke and heat exhaustion. And while much of the country has air conditioning these days, many places do not. It’s especially important to keep an eye on the seniors in your life, as they are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Older adults have a higher tendency to be dehydrated, their bodies take longer to adjust to changes in the temperature, and they may be on prescriptions that also prevent their bodies from regulating properly. Here are some tips to keep the vulnerable seniors in your life a little more comfortable. Continue reading
LTC Insurance Eases Caregiver Financial Strain
Providing care for a loved one is a difficult emotional journey. However, it’s also a huge financial burden. Not just for the caretaker, but also for their employers. Take a look at this week’s LTC Caregiving Trends 2019 Infographic and see the staggering numbers for yourself. You will be amazed at the true cost of care.
6 ways to Reduce the Risk of Dementia
The thought of getting Dementia when we’re older is terrifying. Often people make themselves feel better with the age-old thought, “It’ll never happen to me.” The truth is that after the age of 60 about 5% of people have Dementia, and by the age of 85 the percentage jumps between 25-50%. The good news is that, despite hereditary genetic predisposition, there are many things we can do to help our odds out. Continue reading
Personal Story: How Long-Term Care Insurance Changes Caregiving
Nathan Sanow is the Executive Director of LTC Consumer. He, like many of us, has a personal story that involves a long-term care experience.
“According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 52% of Americans will require professional long-term care services in their lifetime.” Having worked in the insurance industry for nearly 20 years I know the stats and have heard the stories of people on both sides who did and did not have coverage. But nothing prepares you for when it happens to your family.
How to Convince Parents to Move into an LTC Facility
Watching a parent get older and more vulnerable can be tough. The first signs of potentially needing help are difficult to witness; forgetfulness, when things start to slip in the housekeeping or yard work, or even worse – a fall. Often mom or dad are reluctant to leave their life-long homes and move into a long-term care facility. However, with a little preparation and perseverance, you can help your parents transition to a safer residence with less responsibility and more socially engaging activities. Continue reading
Maintain Independence with Long-Term Care Insurance
You’ve been independent your whole life. You lived where you wanted, you bought the car you liked, and you ate the food you loved. You tried to make the right decisions and the healthy choices that were best for your family. You lived life on your own terms. The goal, as you get older, is to maintain that independence. So how do you accomplish that while still living your best life? How do you continue that feeling of freedom, while seemingly depending more and more on other people? You protect yourself and your loved ones with a long-term care plan. Continue reading
Infographic: LTC by the Numbers, Buying Trends
People like to know what other people are buying – what the trends are. The assumption is that all these other people must know what they’re doing. So LTC Consumer thought we would put your minds at ease by compiling our long-term care insurance (LTCI) buying trends into one easy-to-read Infographic. Guided by our specialists, last year’s consumers chose policies that made the most sense for their families and their retirement strategies. Check it out and see what was trending. Continue reading
Your Long-Term Care Journey With and Without Insurance
Unless we die of a sudden event, most of us will experience a long-term care (LTC) journey. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people turning age 65 will need LTC at some point in their lives. The question is, how will that journey affect our finances, our health, and our loved ones? With long-term care insurance (LTCI) that journey can be a little easier.
5 easy ways to support Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month in June
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and the Alzheimer’s Association is asking you to get involved. They have five simple steps to show your support and encourage more awareness. The first three are to “go purple”, the fourth is to share your story, and the fifth is to take action. LTC Consumer will be participating in all of these to help spread the word and fight to end Alzheimer’s. Continue reading
