How to Avoid the High Cost of Healthcare

There is a storm brewing in America. It has the power to ruin lives directly and indirectly. The storm will wreak more havoc than any natural disaster in history. The name of the storm is not a common name like Katrina. This storm’s name is called “America’s Health Care Crisis.” The early signs are already here. Just consider these facts:

* Every 30 seconds, someone in the United States files bankruptcy due to a serious health problem.

* According to a Harvard University study, 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings in the United States are the direct result of medical expenses.

* Health care spending in the U.S. is more than $1.8 TRILLION!

* In 2003, the U.S. spent 15.3% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on health care.

* Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the U.S. have risen five times faster than workers’ earnings since 2000.

* Experts predict retiring elderly couples will need a conservative $200,000 to pay for basic medical services and most experts agree that the number is probably closer to $300,000.

With the cost of services going up, the demand for those services is also increasing. Consider the following:

* Cancer rates have exploded from 1 death in 20 in 1910 to 1 death in 3 in 2006.

* Diabetes Type 2 (adult onset) has exploded by 600% in just the last generation.

* Heart Disease deaths went from obscurity in the early 1900’s to the #2 killer in America.

* Stroke moved from obscurity to the #3 killer and the #1 cause of disability in the US.

* Auto-immune disorders like Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia have become commonplace.

Why is this happening? What could be the common link? Many experts believe it is what we eat. Not just the types of food and how they are prepared, but the actual nutritional content. Over a 10-year period, the potassium level in oats and buckwheat dropped by two-thirds. That means you need to eat three bowls of oatmeal to get the same potassium as one bowl gave you just ten years ago. Think about you and your children – over the last ten years you and they have eaten the same amounts of food but with much less nutritional content. In the fifty years between the 1940s and the 1990s, nutrient values for protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin, and ascorbic acid declined in at least 43 garden crops.

What’s the answer? What can we do to add nutrition back into our diets and our bodies? What can we do to keep from spending all our savings on medical bills? How can we continue to enjoy an active lifestyle well into our senior years?

The answer is simple: Supplement.

Even the FDA, along with a growing number of nutritionists and medical experts agree that nutritional supplementation is the key to leading a healthy and fit life. Read why more and more people are being proactive about improving their health and at the same time they are fighting the effects of aging. I encourage you to examine the nutritional content of your current diet. You can definitely look and feel better with proper nutrition.

As we get older, many of us start taking more and more medications. Consider that while Americans comprise only five percent of the entire world’s population, we consume ONE-HALF OF ALL the prescription drugs manufactured WORLD WIDE! That is more than 3 billion prescriptions each year. Prescription drug expenses are the fastest growing health care costs increasing by more than 15% each year since 1998.

The pharmaceutical industry has done a great job at convincing people that drugs are intended to cure disease. But if prescription drugs were the answer to health, why aren’t we the healthiest nation on Earth? In spite of all the drugs, the physicians, and the hospitals, Americans are getting heavier; the rate of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are rising; and we have one of the highest infant death rates in the world.

We need to transition from our over-reliance on drugs and believing that taking a pill is the ’solution’ to finding and treating what caused the disease in the first place. It is certainly fair to say that traditional medicine can do amazing things – especially in treating trauma and infectious disease. But for promoting health, traditional medicine is ineffective and extraordinarily expensive.

Many in the wellness industry work very hard spreading the word that it is much better (and cheaper!) to prevent disease than to treat it after it occurs. Preventing disease and fighting the effects of aging are two of the primary reasons why many people take supplements and how they become proactive about improving their health. By putting yourself into a state of optimal health, you feel better, have more energy, and increase the quality of your life.

How to Stay in Good Health When Times are Tough

 

With the economy in a tailspin, most of us are feeling the effects of the financial crisis. Amidst the daily struggle to hang onto jobs, pay our bills, and save for retirement, physical wellness can take a back seat to more immediate concerns.

But the stress of trying to cope in a tough economy makes it more important than ever to care for your most valuable asset – your health. Good health can make a tremendous difference in your ability to face the pressures of uncertain times.

Nutrition

A demanding schedule can make it tempting to eat on the run; with grocery prices soaring, you may skimp on more wholesome foods in favor of cheaper alternatives. But good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health, and it is possible to eat well without draining your wallet.

- Plan Ahead
Plan a weekly menu before you shop and purchase only the items you need – you will save a lot of money.
Keep the FDA food pyramid in mind, and skip the prepackaged meals. Use fresh produce and whole grains
whenever possible – farm stands are excellent sources of fresh and inexpensive seasonal items.

- Avoid Fast Food
Although it is cheap and convenient, fast food is calorie-laden and lacking in nutritional value. Carry healthy
snacks and ignore the lure of the drive-through.

- Dine In
Restaurants are expensive, and little attention is given to the nutritional quality of the food coming out of the
kitchen. Make cooking a family event, or invite your friends – everyone will benefit from good food and the
camaraderie of preparing a meal together.

Exercise

You’ve been working overtime to make ends meet. With the bills piling up, the gym membership is an expense you can’t justify. Sticking to an exercise routine seems impractical – you’ll get back into it when things get better.

Feeling this way is understandable, but physical activity is a vital to maintaining good health. Exercising is a great way to de-stress, keep your metabolism running, and sustain a healthy body weight.

If you can’t afford the snazzy gym, you can still work out without the expensive equipment and personal trainer. Why not rediscover the pleasures of the great (and free) outdoors? Take a walk with friends, your partner, or the dog. A bike ride is an excellent workout, even if you ride a $200 model instead of a sexy, top-of-the-line racing cycle.

Take a hike and enjoy the scenery, or go for a vigorous swim. If you live in a winter climate, even sledding with the kids can be great exercise – the trudge back up the hill is a workout in itself. However you choose to stay fit, you will feel refreshed and ready to deal with any challenge.

Stress Management

Medical experts agree that high stress levels have a tremendous impact on our health. Stress weakens the immune system and depletes the hormones that promote healthy body function and mental well-being; it is also a huge factor in illnesses such as heart disease.

Make time for yourself. Yoga, meditating, or simply listening to soothing music can help you to relax, reduce your stress level, and allow your body’s self-healing abilities to take over.

Risky Behaviors

Behaviors such as smoking, heavy drinking, and drug use are never good for you. Aside from the adverse health effects, these substances can dim your outlook, exacerbate stressful situations, and impair your ability to make good decisions.

Cutting back on drinking and smoking can only be beneficial, and you will find yourself feeling more energized and positive about your life.

Preventative Health Care

It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of preventative care. Scheduling a checkup or mammogram may be the furthest thing from your mind right now, but remember that early detection is critical in treating any disease.

- Lab tests (such as pap smears) can spot diseases which are easily treated in early stages, but become
much more complicated and dangerous if allowed to progress.

- Mammograms are recommended for women ages 40 and up. Don’t duck out of your checkup with the
excuse that you don’t have time – you could be saving your life.

- Cholesterol checks are vital for older adults. Maintaining a healthy cholesterol level can minimize your risk of
stroke or heart disease.

Don’t overlook your annual checkup. Even in difficult times, you will greatly improve the quality of your life if you practice good habits and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

Old Colony Elder Services Urges Baby Boomers To Learn More About Long Term Care Planning Now

 BROCKTON, MA.

Old Colont Elder Services (OCES), a non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) located in Brockton, is supporting the Executive Office of Elder Affairs’ (EOEA) campaign “Embrace Your Future” to raise awareness about the importance of long term care planning.

 

Anyone between 45 and 60 years old who is interested in more information about planning for retirement and long term care should contact OCES at (508) 584-1561 to request a brochure.

 

The “Embrace Your Future” campaign is targeting the people born between 1946 and 1964 and encouraging them to take steps now to plan for their future needs. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care Information, planning for future long term care needs is important for a number of reasons:

 

Expense – Long term care services are often much more expensive than people think. Care often exceeds what the average person can pay using their income and other resources. You may not meet the eligibility requirements for federal or state assistance. Medicare, disability insurance and health insurance do not pay for long term care services.

 

Financial and emotional stress – The financial and emotional burden of your care will rest solely on your family members unless you plan ahead. Remember, your assets may not be enough to cover the costs of your care.

 

More care choices – By planning ahead, you will have more choices as to how your long term support needs will be met as well as where you wish to receive that care – for many, the desire is to remain at home for as long as possible.

 

“When you are healthy and active, there is often no sense of urgency with regard to planning for long term care because the potential needs seem so far into the future. But, planning ahead is the best way to ensure that your future needs will be met and that you will have the resources to pay for those needs. Long term care costs are rising and the government will not have the funds to support them. We strongly encourage anyone between 45 and 60 to contact us for more information,” explained Diana DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

 

The best way to begin planning is by taking the first step to obtain more information. Contact OCES at (508) 584-1561 to request that an “Embrace Your Future” brochure be mailed to you at no charge. Or, 800ageinfo.com or www.longtermcare.gov/campaign/ma for more information.

 

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

 

OCES offers these programs in the towns of Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman. 

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent
unnecessary or premature institutionalization. 

In 2009, OCES was honored with the Metro-South Chamber of Commerce’s “Economic Impact Award”. The agency has 140 employees.  For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

Sleep and Aging – How to Minimize Detrimental Aging Effects

It could be that you are not getting enough sleep Many people are unaware of the fact that their need for sleep doesn’t decline as they age.

Getting enough sleep is still a critical factor even if you are using an anti aging technique. There is nothing we can do about the fact that the body is going to age as the years march by, but the amount that aging affects your health and physical appearance can be controlled to some extent .Choose to reduce the signs of aging improving your health by getting proper sleep , regardless of the plan you choose.

In a revolutionary anti aging health guide, Dr. Ronal Klatz, MD, DO with Dr Robert Goldman report that the sleep needs of humans remain constant throughout their lives. However, the kind of sleep people get can vary from person to person. Some people are able to function perfectly on 6-7 hours of sleep, while others need more than 8 hours of sleep a day. Sleep and Aging studies have shown that retired individuals spend less time in delta sleep and younger people spend a greater amount of time in deep sleep, but REM sleep is constant throughout life.

Sleep Is Critical for Longevity

Sleep is necessary for your body to heal and improve.Sleeping properly allows enough energy and resources for cell repair and natural growth. For these reasons, it’s essential to the fight against aging that you give your body the sleep it requires to maintain your overall health and the health of your skin.

Do You Sleep Enough?

We have been advised that for proper rest each day, 8 hours of sleep was needed. However, research studies that were done as early as 2002 have suggested that the perfect amount of sleep may be six to seven hours for adults. Keep in mind, that some people will need more sleep than others, but it’s pretty easy to determine if you’re sleeping enough or not.Feeling Great after your sleep experience or struggling trying to get some extra time to sleep?Without proper rest, your body and mind just will not function normally. To help you find ways to get more sleep, we’ve included some tips that might help you fall asleep faster.

Avoid eating anything at least two hours before bedtime, including sugary snacks. When foods ingested increase your blood sugar , watch out you’ll probably stay awake too long.

Listen to soothing music, the sounds of nature or even the digital pattern of white noise. It also helps to meditate right before bedtime.

Avoid watching TV before bedtime. This stimulates the mind and keeps you alert and thinking. Instead, find a relaxing activity such as reading to do before going to bed.

Sleep And Aging

Adequate sleep is critical for those people using any anti aging methods or that need to generally improve their health.Prove it to yourself by going to bed eartly , rising with plenty of rest. You will also find that it perfectly compliments any techniques you are using to fight the signs of aging.

Life Insurance – Understanding the Key Facts

It might not be pleasant to think about now, but life insurance can be a smart investment that can protect your wife or husband, children, and other loved ones in the event of your death. Whether or not you need to take out a life insurance policy depends on the needs and circumstances of your family. Read on to learn about when life insurance is practical and when it may be unnecessary.

 

Life Insurance Basics

Life insurance is unique in that it does not protect the person who is insured; it is intended to protect your family and loved ones after you are gone. The coverage is designed to ensure that spouses, children, business interests, and other dependents are financially secure even if a major breadwinner or the owner of the company dies unexpectedly.

There are six main reasons you might decide to purchase life insurance:

To support family members or dependents who rely on your income
To pay for funeral expenses, burial costs, and estate taxes
To protect your business
As an inheritance to family or other heirs
To leave money to charity
As a source of investment or savings to draw on during your lifetime

If you are the major breadwinner of your family, the ideal life insurance policy should pay out enough money in the event of your death to ensure that your spouse and children will be financially supported  for as long as necessary – including mortgage payments, medical expenses, and children’s college tuition. On the other hand, if your purpose in arranging life insurance is simply to save your family the expense of your funeral and estate taxes, then your policy will be much smaller—enough to cover those expenses  at estimated future prices.

Life insurance policies vary widely depending on age, health, gender, and any existing risk factors. The cost will depend primarily on the amount of coverage and the details of the policy, although life insurance policies are generally more expensive for men than for women, in part because life expectancy is generally longer for women.  

 

Term Life Insurance vs. Whole Life Insurance

There are two basic types of life insurance: term life insurance, which pays if death occurs during the term of the policy, and whole life or permanent life insurance, which is actively invested in until death, whenever it occurs. Each choice has its benefits and disadvantages:

Term life insurance plans typically have no cash value to be drawn upon. If you outlive the term of the life insurance policy, you receive zero cash back and have no more insurance.
Whole life insurance policies typically offer a savings option, which allows money to be invested early and withdrawn later as needed.
Whole life insurance is very expensive at the start, allowing the insurance company to invest a chunk of money to cover the final payout.
Whole life insurance policies are typically more expensive than term life insurance.

A term life insurance plan might be suitable for a person in their 70s or 80s who would like to leave behind a legacy for their family or make a gift donation to a favorite charity, but who does not expect to outlive the term of the insurance plan.  However, as term life insurance rates are based on various risk factors, a person in their 70s or 80s may have to pay a premium to secure this type of life insurance policy.

Permanent or whole life insurance is usually preferable for anyone with a spouse or family who depends on their income. On the other hand, if you’re only concerned about having life insurance while your children are growing up or you have an unpaid mortgage, a term life insurance plan for 10, 15, or 20 years might be right for you. Choosing the right plan depends on many lifestyle factors, as well as your needs and wishes in terms of your financial planning.

 

Discount Life Insurance

If you’re seeking a bargain on life insurance, keep in mind that discount life insurance often turns out to be anything but cheap. Inexpensive plans may only pay out under certain circumstances, and pay nothing if death results from causes other than those stipulated in the policy.

Some life insurance companies offer bargain policies for children, which pay out in the event of a child’s death. Other children’s life insurance plans are touted as investments or as a smart way to establish a long-term plan that a child can continue to pay into as they grow into an adult. These plans are seldom worth the price, especially when the same money could be invested in a more conventional investment with a better return.

Life insurance is a worthwhile investment to protect your family in the event of your death, covering unpaid expenses and allowing them to maintain their current standard of living. It can also help to protect a business from bankruptcy. However, although life insurance advocates might claim otherwise, it is not usually the best way to invest for retirement or other financial needs during your lifetime.

Insurance: Bridging The Long-Term Care Gap

Providing for adequate health care is one of the top concerns for today’s seniors. And yet, many find themselves coming up short when that need is for long term care. With costs skyrocketing and government purse strings tightening, planning for such care has never been more important. Don’t let long term care costs take you by surprise.

The gap that exists between what seniors need in long term care and what Medicare and Medicaid will cover is huge. Combine that with the proposed Congressional bill restricting Medicaid nursing home coverage, and it’s clear to see that seniors and those nearing retirement simply can’t afford to ignore this important issue.

How you approach your long term care needs, which include custodial and skilled nursing in-home care, assisted living facilities and nursing home care, depends greatly on your economic situation. For those with low incomes and little assets, there are few choices. Most likely, should the need for long term care arise, you’ll quickly spend down your assets and easily qualify for Medicaid.

For those with an annual incomes exceeding $75,000 and with assets of $500,000 or more, you could simply pay for it out of pocket. But with nursing homes costing thousands of dollars a month and some seniors needing years of such care, even a well-lined nest egg could experience a drastic drop in value. A more prudent approach would be to purchase long term care insurance and use that to pay for any long term care you or your spouse may need.

The real conundrum exists for those seniors of moderate means, those with incomes between $30,000 and $50,000 who have a few hundred thousand dollars in assets. Long term care needs could gut your life savings and impoverish the healthy spouse. But long term care insurance can be very expensive and hard for these seniors to afford.

Long term care insurance is complicated and there are many issues you must understand when considering it. My next article will be devoted purely to better understanding long term care insurance and what to look for when buying it.

If purchasing long term care insurance isn’t an option for you, there are still some strategies you can use to cover that care should you need it. Selling your life insurance policies, called a life settlement, is one option. Reverse mortgages can also free up needed cash. Selling your home, however unpleasant that may be, can also provided needed funds. But in all of these strategies it is better to leverage those proceeds by using them to buy long term care insurance, if possible.

But for now, let’s consider some issues that none of us like to think about, but will greatly influence how we each address our long term care needs. When someone is no longer able to care for themselves, usually the healthy spouse, if there is one, will take over the care. Few seniors, wealthy or not, are quick to dip into their savings to hire nurses or other care givers to help out.

The result is that the healthy spouse often sacrifices their own health and well-being to care for the sick one. We’ve all seen it happen, how the ‘healthy’ spouse becomes exhausted and emotionally spent trying to meet the overwhelming needs of the other.

If they’re lucky, their adult children will step in to help shoulder the burden. Some families have gone on like this for years, with sons and daughters spoon feeding their parents and changing their diapers. The emotional toll on the family in these situations is indescribable.

How much easier life is when seniors take active steps to provide for this care properly. Then the family can spend their emotional and physical strength on cherishing their loved one, without ruining their own lives in the process.

No one can predict with certainty how their end-of-life will go. But the fact remains that nearly half of all seniors will need nursing home care. Those who don’t are likely to need some kind of outside help. Plan now for how you’re going to provide for your long term care. Your health, and the health of your loved ones, depends on it.

How to Ensure the Home Security of the elderly

Many middle aged Americans get to a point where they have to take care of their elderly parents. This reversal of roles can be emotionally draining. Seeing someone who once cared for you start to have their physical health and mental faculties fail is one of the hardest things imaginable. With all of the emotion, it can be difficult to figure out what you need to do to ensure your elderly parents’ quality of life. Luckily, there are many non-profit organizations now that can help with things like managing the process of dying, such as Hospice. But while your parents are still fairly healthy and not ready for end-of-life care, there can be a lot of murky waters to navigate.

One of the most important things that you need to consider as the responsible adult is your parents’ home security. Now that they’re older, they might not be as mindful as they had previously been, and this can put them at risk for break-ins, identity theft, and other kinds of crimes and assaults. So keep the following ideas in mind.

1. Invest in a good home security system.

This is the most basic precaution that you can take for your parents. Many home security systems are relatively cheap, and you can even have them connected to fire alarms and smoke detectors. These home alarms will ensure that the police are alerted if a break-in occurs, which your aging parents might sleep through or be too disoriented to act on. The only thing you have to do is make sure that someone activates the system every night before your parents go to sleep, otherwise it will be useless.

2. Consider moving them into a retirement community.

Many aging parents will be quite stubborn about this, because they see it as a fundamental loss of independence. In a way, they are right, but many elderly people no longer have the ability to manage an entire house to themselves, and would greatly benefit from living in a smaller, more manageable space. Emphasize how they’ll be able to meet people their own age – which will be especially beneficial if many of their friends have passed away – and if their medical state is good enough, you can even put them in a place that’s like an apartment building. Show them how this is a way to gain independence, and emphasize how different the experience of living there will be from the nursing homes of their nightmares.

3. Invest in a medical alarm.

Like a home alarm, this is one of the simplest yet most important devices. They are small and can be worn around the neck or wrist. This way, if your mom or dad is having a sudden onset of symptoms like sever chest pain, or falls and cannot get up, all they have to do is push a button to alert the emergency authorities, and a full ambulance crew will be sent to their home right away. Without such a device, they could be completely helpless, left alone to suffer or even die when someone’s help could have made all of the difference in the world.

When You Promise To Care For A Parent

When You Promise To Care For A Parent, one Daughter’s Story

This is my story to be shared in the hope that other families will have the opportunity to plan properly in advance for a loved one’s Long Term Care needs. My mother was uninsurable years before I got into this industry as a Long Term Care Insurance Specialist, unfortunately. She gave of herself to keep my grandmother home during her final months of life I the mid 1960’s when she needed intense care – fulfilling that age-old promise of not putting a loved one in a nursing home; and, so, I made the same commitment to my own mother 40 years later.

My mother’s health history was shaky, and years before she passed we built a mother-in-law apartment onto our home. It was a perfect picture of a well-balanced family; we all got along well, especially since Mom had her own exterior entrance to come and go as she pleased with a second door to shut us off from the main house when she’d had enough of our girls! I am so grateful to have had my mother living with us during her last 4 years of life. My mother’s assets that remained at the time of her care need was but a small emergency fund to cover final expenses, funeral luncheon, etc. My husband and I were paying for college for 2 of our 3 daughters at the time. So, we were definitely buried within the sandwich generation.

How Mom’s Care Needs Played Out

I’m first going to share with you how I had WISHED my mother’s care experience had played out, then how it really played out . . . . Each morning I’d have my coffee with her nurse reviewing how her night went and greeting my mother with a loving hug in the morning, spending quality time with her watching her favorite movies, serving her lunch, and reviewing all the family pictures; then taking a break while her nurse helped her with a bath, all changing and lifting. I would, however, do her hair, and then we would continue reviewing memories and family stories and greeting visitors that came to say their final farewells.

The reality was that I had taken an unpaid leave of absence from my employer 6 months before her passing and lived off of savings, forfeited employer contributions to my 401(k), and while the last few weeks of my mother’s care needs intensified, I caught myself in a position where I had to do lifting which created a few compressed discs in my back. Hopsice would have paid for my mother to be in a facility and only a little help at home, but not the kind of help she needed daily, which I where I came in.

We’d already decided to keep her out of a facility and keep her home like she had done for my grandmother. It was my promise. The last week or so I wasn’t aware that I subconsciously didn’t want to leave her side even when I had to go to the bathroom. I didn’t realize that I wasn’t eliminating fully and unknowingly was cramping and I couldn’t eliminate creating a substantial back-up in my system and narrowly missed severe kidney damage, according to what showed up in testing within the year after my mom’s death. My husband and I had to lift my mother off the floor up onto the hospital bed (higher than regular bed) one night after she had decided she was undressing and leaving to go on a trip, which stressed his already bad back and further aggravating my compression problem.

I was the one who had to administer the anti-anxiety drugs so she would start to relax to the point where she wouldn’t keep trying to get out of bed, then upping dosage to keep her comfortable. To be totally honest, I am a very strong woman, but doing that to my own mother was psychologically distressing to me, seriously. In the end she slipped into coma while I played her favorite movies and music. I read the Hospice book weeks before hand and subconsciously knew what was happening, but was so traumatized that I didn’t want to admit that my mother was slipping away before my own eyes. I thought we had more time.

Impact On My Health, Income and Assets

While a loved one’s passing is traumatic for anyone, I hope you’ll take this story the way it was intended, which is to share with you the true burden, from a daughter’s perspective — what it really means – REAL WORLD – when the daughter makes the commitment to a parent that they won’t ever put Mom or Dad into a nursing home.

There is financial software that analyzes the future value of the income loss I realized, the 401(k) contributions I didn’t make, the employer matching 401(k) contributions that didn’t happen, the loss of income after my Mom’s passing that occurred because I just couldn’t function for a full 6 months, and then ramping up my commission only career back up also took time. The future value to my commitment to my mother came to me at a cost of $302,987 which represents those financial ramifications calculated forward at an average rate of return of 8% from age 44 to age 66 years. If we ever meet, I do carry a copy of that software calculation with me if you’d like to see it. The financial loss to my and my husband’s retirement years of $302,987 plus my compressed disk and kidney/bladder malfunction episode and the psychological trauma are my scars of having cared for my mother, whom I loved so very much.

I Would Have Chosen Differently

I didn’t have choices though because her lack of assets, no long term care insurance and my not having disposable income or assets to pay for her care. If faced with the same circumstances today, now knowing what I do, I probably would have said ‘yes’ to the Hospice facility my mother urged me to consider, even though it would have meant commuting to see my mother those last several weeks and not fulfilling that promise. So I am sharing this story to help some of my readers take their blinders off, literally. You see, I still meet many retirees who use the excuse that one of their adult children will take care of them when they need care, for the reason why they should not look at transferring part or all of the risk of long term care expenses.

Our Responsibility To Provide For Ourselves

I believe, passionately, that we all have a responsibility to provide for our future care needs.  If we don’t plan to transfer some of the risk using long term care insurance, then we must self-insurance and pay for own care costs, even if that means using up the money we intended to pass down to our family.  We all deserve to live with dignity, independently through our last days and not be a burden on our loved onces.

I believe that if we have been blessed financially that we consider including covering extended family members with long term care insurance plans as a loving gift . No one person would ever knowingly subject themselves to the physical, emotional and financial burdens of caring for another — if they had, beforehand, — choices to do otherwise or supplement the loving care that only they as family members could provide. Not until they see the dozens upon dozens of families go on claim needing to activate their long term care policies like I have (which families I am honored to have assisted), no one truly understands what it means to physically care for a loved one unless they’ve done just that.

Many of my clients have cared for their spouses and that seems more natural, but still there is a burden there as well, for which long term care services can be provided by those trained to lift properly, trained to assist in the home with bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, transferring and continence issues, are there to provide support services such as laundry, housekeeping, food preparation, errands, etc.

More importantly is the possibility of running so low on assets after paying for long term care for one spouse, that the surviving spouse is left in a financial hardship!

Fast forward a few years later and my passion in assisting others as a Long Term Care Insurance Planning Specialist is much more fulfilling than it was prior to my having had the experience of caring for my mother. Every day I help protect loved ones and feel I am blessed to help families this way.

Baby Boomers Downsizing To Smaller Homes

There is an interesting trend happening with the Baby Boomers. According to an article in the Christian Science Monitor by Marilyn Gardner, Boomers are moving to smaller living quarters and are increasingly prepared to pare down possessions in the process.

For those of you who need to know who these ‘Baby boomers’ are, they are the people who were born just after the World War II and are called so because of the boom in the number of babies during that period.

According to a study by FH Boom, a group that studies this generation, Boomers have an adventurous spirit. They love to travel and are known to prefer a ‘lock and leave’ kind of housing. They are ready to move to smaller quarters much earlier in life, say 50’s while they are still working, when compared to their parents who often waited to the later part of their lives to do the same.

Baby Boomers are moving to favor housing such as condos, active adult communities and city apartments. According to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), about 6 percent of people, between the age bracket of 55 and 64, move every year. The reasons usually vary from empty nests, to unexpected job offers, and early retirement plans. Whatever the reason for moving, Baby Boomers seem to do so with a fair amount of alacrity.

Most experts agree that for the Baby Boomer generation, it is easier to part with their belongings as they grew up during times when most of the things were disposable. Baby Boomers are more in tune with the changing times than their parents were, who were weighed down by precious possessions such heirlooms and large furniture. Therefore, Baby Boomers do not hesitate to shift to homes that offer less spacious living than they are used to.

Baby Boomers are more adaptable to change and are willing to make compromises in the process of downsizing their homes. Besides reducing their living spaces and giving up their long-term belongings that they have no use for anymore, Baby Boomers also have a flexible approach toward modifying their home space to make it more user-friendly, sometimes radically too.

Nevertheless, Baby Boomers seem to have limits to how much they can downsize their homes. According to one real estate broker, while the older generation preferred 900 to 1200 sq. feet, Baby Boomers want 1800 to 2400 sq. feet even after the nest has emptied.

A simpler lifestyle and the thrill of moving are some aspects that seem to counter any hard feelings that result while downsizing their quarters or reducing their possessions.

Hey Baby Boomers – Here is Some Travel Advice Just for You!

If you were born between the end of World War II and the beginning of the Vietnam War, you are a Baby Boomer. Some Boomers have taken early retirement already, and others are on the verge of this new chapter in their lives. ‘Travel’ is at the top of the list for many.

Planning Your Trip

Your travel itinerary should be part of a careful process. Plan a holiday with plenty of ‘you’ time. You should finish every vacation feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Baby Boomers are generally quite fit when compared to our ancestors. However, increasing numbers of obese or overweight adults are plagued with bad backs, high cholesterol levels, and fragile knee joints.

Don’t just pick a cruise and pack your bags. Keep your interests and physical limitations in mind. If you are a swimming fanatic, you might want to try scuba diving. However, asthma would preclude a scuba vacation. You might have to settle for snorkeling instead. If you have a bad back, don’t plan to go hiking in the Andes.

The older you are, the less likely you are to have a comfortable night’s sleep. Try to find a hotel or bed and breakfast with memory foam mattresses and soundproof walls.

When booking your room, ask the reservations desk if they offer discounts for seniors. Some lodging establishments will provide a substantial discount as early as age 55. Don’t consider yourself ‘old’ just because you are 55. Think of some fabulous Baby Boomers like Suzanne Somers, Donald Trump, Sylvester Stallone, and Dolly Parton. They all celebrated 60th birthdays in 2006.

Preparations

Apply for a passport at least 6 months in advance if you don’t already have one. Some countries will not allow you to cross their borders with a passport that is near its expiry date. Contact embassies or do some research online so that you are aware of current regulations.

Check with your physician to see if there are any activities you should avoid. Your doctor can also advise you regarding immunizations, give you prescription refills, and provide photocopies of crucial medical information. Many countries will only allow clearly labeled prescription medications where the name on the bottle matches the passport. If you require supplies like alcohol swabs and other support products, purchase them ahead of time. You may not be able to locate what you need in a foreign country.

Be aware of the coverage provided by your current medical insurance policies. It may be prudent to purchase extra insurance for unexpected (and uncovered) contingencies such as air evacuation.

Packing

Travel activities can cause swollen feet. Sensible, comfortable footwear that is one width wider and 1/2 size larger than usual is advisable. Never pack brand new shoes or boots.

Sleep disturbances become more frequent as we age. Pack some foam earplugs so you won’t have to worry about your partner’s snoring, creaking floorboards, or disturbances in the hallway outside your room.

Many of us find that foods we used to enjoy now cause symptoms like gas, cramps, or constipation. At home, we can compensate by watching what we eat. However, when dining in restaurants, we are often faced with unfamiliar and exotic fare that can wreak havoc with the gastrointestinal system. Pack a bottle of digestive enzymes. They are available in big department stores like Wal-Mart, as well as pharmacies and health food stores.

A small memory foam travel pillow can cradle your head while you nap onboard the plane – or it can provide relief from a sore back if you put it between your knees while you sleep at night.

Keep your hands free when you go on tours. A good backpack is the key. Shop around until you find a comfortable pack that is easy to put on and remove.

Partay!

Each day before you leave the room, check the weather forecast and dress accordingly – in layers. If you get too warm later in the day, you can peel something off and put it in your backpack.

Your backpack can also be used for meds, your travel pillow, a bottle of water, and other essentials. Valuables and important papers should never go in the pack, however. Keep them in a next-to-skin money belt (zipper side in) with only small amounts of cash in another easily accessed wallet or pocket.

Fresh water is crucial. Proper hydration will keep your energy level at optimum and prevent that old travel bane – constipation.

Wherever you go, whatever you do, wear a smile and be polite. A cheerful attitude will be infectious and will transform your time away from home into a truly happy, memorable experience.

©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author’s note below (with active links) are included.

Next Page »