Denial Archives - Long Term Care Insurance Expert | Honey Leveen

“Brains and Losses” – Financial Scams on Seniors

May 28, 2019 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

NPR’s Marketplace has done a thoughtful, engaging investigative series on age-associated financial vulnerability, called “Brains and Losses”. You can click here to listen to the 5-part audio series (Don’t worry — each episode is only about 5 minutes long!). It’s an interesting look at new research involving why we are more prone to financial scams as we age.

Even back in 2015, a well-respected and often-cited study found that Americans lose over $36 billion each year to “elder financial abuse”. The study breaks down those losses in 3 major areas:

$17 billion from exploitation – Seniors are led to making poor decisions based on confusing language or high sales pressure.
$12.8 billion from fraud – Seniors fall prey to identity theft or cons to send strangers money.
$6.7 billion from abuse of trust – Seniors who rely on the guidance of close friends, family or other advisors are deceived by the relationship and bilked out of their money.

It seems obvious that as age-related cognitive abilities decline, seniors become an easier target. In fact, I’ve written about this before. One of the early signs of oncoming cognitive impairment is falling for financial scams.

I’ve Seen This Too Often

I’ve observed the warning signs with my own clients and prospective clients. They ask the same questions again and again. They don’t seem to be absorbing the answers I give to their questions. Sometimes they drop their long-term care insurance (LTCi) policies. In a panic, they – or their kids – later call me, wanting to reinstate the policy. This is not a change of heart, but recognizing that a poor decision was made. And it is heartbreaking to me.

As I began listening to the 5-part audio series, I anticipated I’d be hearing more of these kind of stories. Boy, was I wrong. The series examines and explains so much more!

It turns out that you don’t have to be cognitively impaired to fall victim to these scams. There are a host of other factors that also sets someone up for these traps. Financial vulnerability may also be associated with loneliness, isolation, and impaired physical health.

Have the Conversation

I’ve shared the importance of having the difficult conversations with parents about care in their later years. Talking about financial management is a big part of this.

Here are 4 suggested questions that can get the ball rolling:

As you get older, what are your spending priorities?
Do you know what a scam is? What would you do when a stranger calls you, asking for money?
Who do you trust to help you with your finances? How often do you want to talk to them?
If you start to start to get a little shaky around these decisions, what do you want us to do for you?

The bottom line: be proactive. Protect yourself, protect your family, by having explicit conversations, now!

A great way to protect the future financial and medical options for you or someone you love is through long-term care insurance (LTCi). To receive your own free, customized no-obligation quote, click here. Let’s start this conversation!

The Best Surprise is What CCRC’s Don’t Pitch In Sales Presentations

April 3, 2019 by Honey Leveen 6 Comments

Jim and I have now lived in Shell Point Retirement Community (SPRC) a little over a month. Shell Point is a CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community).

I am still working, so please do not hesitate to call me for any help you may need or with questions you may have!

This first month flew by in a dizzying flash, as you can imagine. Our new home still needs work, but happily, we’re on the tail end of settling in and I can resume blogging.

This was an exceptionally well-thought-out move. I have researched and understood the complete long-term care continuum for the past thirty years. Not only has it been my job — it’s been my passion.

The warm welcome and continued staff support we receive has been extraordinary. So much so, in fact, that it deserves a separate blog post, so stay tuned.

It feels absolutely liberating to have downsized! I highly recommend it. Now we own our stuff, our stuff doesn’t own us.

But this post isn’t about the exceptional “resident first” employee culture they have here, or the huge merits of downsizing.

The inspiration for this piece, what they don’t fully describe during sales presentations, is the unexpected impact of increased Social Capital.

The Value of Social Capital

I anticipated that our sense of well-being and overall happiness would increase when we got here, but I never could have imagined by how much. Now I know a lot of the reason why: it’s the increased Social Capital that is at the core of this particular CCRC.

My discovery of Social Capital led to Robert D. Putnam’s acclaimed book “Bowling Alone“. Mr. Putnam’s research documents how the decline of social capital since 1950 has led to more divorce, anxiety, suicide, cynicism, resignation, “compartmentalized” belief systems and lives, distrust, and depression.

In his blog, noted therapist Joe Whitcomb describes the decline of social capital this way: “Today, society and people are more isolated, alienated and disconnected than ever before in all of history… We are more globally connected by technology but even more alone.”

While living in Houston, I knew hundreds, if not thousands of people. It was a lot of fun to walk into Rotary, be recognized and feel loved. But this alone is not all that’s needed for feeling increased security and belonging.

We had a beautiful home for eighteen years, yet we rarely interacted with our neighbors. I always found this troubling. They had their own obligation-laden, busy lives and concerns, and so did we. We usually just smiled and waved as we drove past in our “hermetically sealed” cars. We didn’t know much about each other’s lives even though we lived a few feet apart.

Howdy, Neighbor!

In my new community, people walk by all day long. We often stop and chat, or at least smile and greet every passerby. The post office, salon, fitness center, medical center, and restaurants are all within an easy 3-5 minute walk. Walking gets us out where we see, greet and socialize with others, truly connecting with our neighbors.

It is not necessary to share belief systems or have much in common with neighbors to achieve increased Social Capital, a sense of connection, the feeling that you matter. Even the shortest of social exchanges gives me a happiness “ping” that feels like an endorphin release.

24/7 healthcare, enriching activities, and an engaging lifestyle are available here. But maybe the largest “plus” (and our greatest surprise) is the increased Social Capital. This affirms that our shared human need is to create peaceful, joyful homes and community. This is easily achieved by developing this all-important social capital.

Are you wondering if you can afford this upgrade to your own quality of living? Click here to receive your own complimentary, no-obligation quote for long-term care insurance coverage.

The High Cost of Illiteracy You Haven’t Thought About

March 18, 2019 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has a handy fact sheet all about “Health Literacy”, starting with a definition:

“Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions.”

That ability to obtain — and understand — the necessary facts makes all the difference in how people choose to manage their health options.

The New York Times recently reported on the rising threat of health illiteracy in our country. And the numbers only get worse with age. In fact, only 3 percent of older adults qualify as having “proficient” health literacy.

Why Is It Harder For the Elderly?

There are a number of factors that contribute to the increase of health illiteracy in our aging population.

Complicated Information — Medical information is usually shared in technical, scientific language that can even confuse professionals.
Use of Jargon — Medical professionals sometimes fall back on industry jargon without explaining the meaning.
Stressful Conditions — When people are anxious, it’s even harder for them to make sense of the information being shared.
Cultural Differences — Sometimes there’s a language barrier that keeps people from fully understanding instructions. Even the most competent English speakers may not be able to follow the specifics of a prescription.
Cognitive Impairment — Declining brain function can have disastrous consequences when dosages are misunderstood or completely forgotten.

I’ve often blogged about age-related cognitive decline and it’s ill effects.

Too often, I see health illiteracy in clients I’ve known for many years. When we talk, I can tell they’re not the person I originally met. Instead, I hear fear, frailty and confusion. I worry for their ability to make safe choices for themselves.

One thing left out of the article is the decreasing access to family and community support. This is the elephant in the room. No amount of technology can replace the caring touch of another. I believe our increasingly isolated lifestyles are a major cause of loneliness, depression, fear, poor health outcomes, and health illiteracy. And it only gets worse as we age.

Our increasingly stressed medical system is doing it’s best to counteract the rise in health illiteracy, but this is an uphill battle. I’m not confident they’ll win.

Plan For Your Future Health Literacy

You can avoid health illiteracy well in advance. We are not going to regain our supportive communities from our grandparents’ generation. Make sure you have access to care and genuine concern when you need it. Plan for it and pay for it. Long term care planning in advance is essential.

To begin exploring your own options, click here to receive your free, no-obligation quote for long term care insurance coverage.

What’s a CCRC?

January 2, 2019 by Honey Leveen 2 Comments

They’ve been around for over a century, starting first in Europe, mostly connected to religious organizations. The U.S. had about 7 CCRCs by the 1900s and they have continued to expand since then as both non-profit and for-profit operations. These days, the country has thousands of these facilities as their popularity continues to grow.

So what, exactly, is a CCRC? It’s a Continuing Care Retirement Community.

Here’s an academic definition I got from a recent insurance course I took:

CCRC’s (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) provide housing for senior citizens, an entire continuum of long-term care services, from part-time services performed by nonskilled staff to skilled nursing facility services.

Individuals start out in independent housing and naturally transition through assisted living to skilled nursing care, all while staying in the same community.

Yawn. This definition is so bland!

The “Retirement Home” for Today

For starters, I think the word “Retirement” in the title CCRC is now obsolete. Many people, including myself, will continue to work while living in one.

CCRCs are a place where people can enjoy a carefree, safe, luxurious, fun, stimulating, enriching – no matter what your interests are – lifestyle. Ours offers a strong sense of community. The CCRC is legally obligated to provide care for you through the end of life. And until that time, you’re living your best life possible! You also aging with grace, honesty and dignity.

The core offering of a CCRC is the ability for its residents to “age in place”. They provide an environment that promotes healthy, independent living which typically contributes to a happier and richer quality of life.

As medical needs increase, the appropriate level of care is available without creating radical, unsettling changes. Residents continue to be part of the community, maintaining friendships in familiar surroundings. This “all in one” solution provides great peace of mind to the seniors and also to their family members.

Jim and I are moving to a place called Shell Point Retirement Community (Fort Myers, FL) in February, 2018. That’s really soon! We contemplated this move for a while. Eventually, our attitudes towards CCRC’s shifted. We realized moving now, while we are still healthy, active and vital, was not only wise, but feasible.

Moving to Shell Point does not mean I’m retiring! I will continue to work, because I love my job. I can offer 30 years of wisdom and insight into long-term care protection, plus strong, client-centered ethics. My phone and email will will not change; I’ll continue to support you. When I’m not working, Jim and I will experience a truly fun lifestyle!

It’s National Long Term Care Awareness Month!

December 12, 2018 by Honey Leveen Leave a Comment

November is officially National Long Term Care Awareness Month (LTCAM). The US Congress created LTCAM in 2001, making this the 17th anniversary! Congress recognized the need to promote LTCAM as a month-long campaign aimed at educating Americans on the importance of owning Long Term Care insurance (LTCi).

Local, state and national governments recognize how unprepared citizens are. When it comes to being able to afford often catastrophically expensive long term care (LTC) costs, many of us are unprepared. Our government will not be able to adequately bear the costs of providing LTC. Long term care insurance costs are often a fraction of actual long term care costs.

How is Your Long Term Care Awareness?

Last year, Genworth Financial conducted a survey to see how informed Americans were on the costs, options and even the need for long term care. They found that only 1 in 5 respondents had taken any action in planning for their future medical needs.

They also found a lot of misunderstanding about who pays for for LTC costs, understanding the difference between Medicare and Medicaid, and a general lack of knowledge about what kind of costs are covered.

2 out of 3 respondents expect government programs to cover the costs of their LTC needs; however, 45% admitted that they didn’t know the difference between Medicare and Medicaid programs.
GenX is most concerned about paying for their medical expenses as they age. And yet, they are least likely to have a financial plan in place.
Millennials are most likely to have made proactive plans for their future. The research suggests that they have the lowest expectations of the government being able to pay, so they have taken action to protect themselves.

Here is a first-hand testimonial of someone who didn’t think she needed Long Term Care insurance, kept an open mind and bought the policy.

Knowledge is Power

The purpose of Long Term Care Awareness Month is to raise your awareness of the need to plan responsibly for LTC, right now! This is the very best way to ensure dignity, options, access and choices if LTC is necessary.

Unfortunately, the odds of needing LTC are high. You protect against other risks, like a car accident or house fire. The need for LTC is more likely than a house fire or car accident. LTC often costs more than a car or a house. If you’re not prepared, a lengthy LTC need puts your savings and retirement, and family at risk.

Just as it is smart to plan ahead for retirement, it’s smart to plan now for long-term care.

Take that first step. Click here to receive your free, no-obligation quote for your own Long Term Care insurance coverage.

Request a Free, No-Obligation LTCi Quote