Preparing For Tomorrow podcast Diane Stoddart, Certified Long Term Care Consultant, CLTC

We need to start planning now, 30 years before we think we'll need help living. It'a hard to believe that care could ever cost that much, but in 2001, when I started working in the LTC industry, nursing homes were $1000/month.  People I spoke with thought that was so unfair. Use Genworth's Cost of Care report to view projected future costs here  Be sure to input 5% inflation growth to budget accurately. Most of us would be happy if care for dementia or mobility concerns was only $1000/month. In 1990, home care costs were about $11/day. Getting old and needing help is not ever going to get less expensive, so we need a plan. This week, I share the plan Maureen and I designed to create $250K annual LTC benefits in 30 years, when she is 80.  She has enough income and assets to cover higher costs withoujt hurting herself or her family financially. Listen and learn about the plan she chose to protect her family and, even more importantly, her CHOICES.   Schedule with me to design your plan at  

If we want to make sure we can stay home when long term care is needed, we need a plan.  We need to afford the care we want. If costs of care continue to increase every year like they have been, this is not something most of us will self-fund without bankrupting ourselves or destroying family relationships. The first thing we need to do is admit that we'll probably need help living at some point. Bill Comfort with Certification for Long Term Care says, "If we don't die, wil live long lives.  If we live long lives, we get old.  And when we get old, we need help living." We need to prepare for this and presume we will be the one who lives a long life. How are we going to get the care we need?  Who will provide it?  How will we pay for it?    Will we pay in dollars or with the physical and mental exhaustion of our family? Let me help you prepare to live a long life successfully.  Schedule with me at

In other words, why shoud I trust the insurance company? All insurance companies, and especially LTC companies are heavily regulated and watched closely by all 50 states.   States monitor complaints to ensure compliance. Regulators work with the consumer and company to assist with payments. Often, regulators explain to consumers why a claim isn't being paid and advise the consumer what they need to do to complete the claim requirements. Listen and learn how may ways the Elimination Period is defined by different companies.  It's no wonder we get confused and frustrated. All the more reason to work with a LTC Specialist like me who understands these key differences and can explain them clearly so you know what you are considering. When you understand what you own, there won't be surprises later. Let me help you design your plan.  Schedule here https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

We live in an "I want it now" culture except when it comes to planning for extended care needs.   Why do we feel the need to wait as long as we can to consider and design our LTC plans? Once someone learns that there is a need for LTC insurance in some form, it takes 5-7 years on average for that person to contact someone who can help them purchase coverage. I get that we don't want to plan for when something bad happens like we get dementia, have a stroke or need help getting through each day.  But these things happen whether we are prepared for them or not. We will receive care from someone no matter what happens.  If we have a plan, we retain control of our choices when we do need help. If we continue knowingly or unknowingly using the default plan of "spend all my money til I'm broke and then rely on the state Medicaid system", then we no longer can choose where we live.  The state puts in the next available nursing home bed.  This may or may not be a nice, clean, friendly place. Why do we leavethis to chance? Schedule time with me to prepare today tolive how and where you choose tomorrow  

This week, Diana wants to know what she needs to do to be sure she can live out the rest of her life in her owm home. I know we're all asking this question, because we want to stay home no matter what as well. That really depends on how much support and assistance we can rely on from our family.  Do they live nearby?  If they say they will help us, are they actually able to do so?   If we own LTC insurance, how many hours of care will the benefits cover?  If it's not enough for 24/7 care, how will the family be able to support us around the insurance paid hours?  These conversations have to happen now, before a care need shows up, so everyone knows their role. If you'd like to add LTC insurance in some form to your plan, so you can help your family help you better, schedule with me  to start a conversation  

Employers are seeing their employees reducing hours or leaving work to care for parents, spouses and other family members. They're searching for strategies to help keep employees at work.. Group LTC plans are again becoming popular, and they look different than they did in yesteryear. Listen and learn what is available as an LTC worksite solution. If you own a business or you are an employee of a business and want your employer to consider group LTC, contact me for information  Schedule 30 minutes with me to inquire