Long Term Care: Living with Grace and Dignity

Melinda was my long-time graphic designer and webmistress. I knew her for almost 20 years. She was also a very good friend.

She wants me to share her story. Her testimonial is already on my site.

I sold Melinda her long term care insurance policy when she was 60, a little more than two years ago.

The following year, she was diagnosed with cancer. Up until then, she’d always had great health.

Jim and I visited her in early December 2016 and she was in considerable pain. She was very weak and fatigued, and unable to manage her affairs without assistance. Melinda said that she feared falling while dressing and bathing. She also confided that she hadn’t saved much money over the years and was left to care for herself during this most difficult time of her life.

Melinda Didn’t Know She Could Afford the Care She Needed

I explained to her that needing chronic (not temporary) standby or hands-on assistance with bathing and dressing would cause her long term care insurance policy to pay. She’d be entitled to collect about $3200/month if she’d acknowledge her need for help. Melinda was ready to start the process.

Only because she owned long term care insurance, Melinda was able to move to a high-quality assisted living facility, where she spent the rest of her life. The assisted living facility was in a ranch house in a sub-division, modified for people needing care. Not all assisted living facilities are large communities. And many of these facilities keep patients through the end of life, as this one did.

I visited Melinda at her assisted living facility about a month before her death. While spending the day with her, I was impressed by the caring, peaceful, nurturing atmosphere. The ratio of caregivers to residents was about 1:3 – higher than you’d find in a larger, more commercialized facility.

Melinda often commented on how pleased she was with the facility and her care. Her bedroom had a large picture window. Through it, we enjoyed the sunset together and watched the shadows dance across the wall. We had a beautiful visit together. Then we said goodbye to each other. Caregivers were attentive to her. It was a very dignified place. She was truly cared for.

Long Term Care Insurance Bought Melinda Peace

Melinda was able to spend the end of her life in this residential environment, tying up loose ends, making amends, enjoying visits with friends, all with grace and dignity.

Without her long term care insurance, the outcome for Melinda would have been entirely different and not nearly as good. She would have had to stay in a friend’s home, trying to “tough out” her situation. She would not have admitted her true needs, for fear of imposing on her hosts. Without the benefit of a trained medical staff, she would have been a frequent visitor to the emergency room, accelerating her decline, her morale and her overall quality of life. She would have felt unsafe and fearful.

Instead, Melinda got beautiful sunsets, gentle conversations with friends and a team of trained caregivers.

Melinda’s long term care insurance carrier, MedAmerica, could not have been more helpful and willing to pay her claims. Without her long term care insurance, I believe Melinda would have passed away much sooner, and with far less dignity, grace and peace.