This week, I interviewed Lynda Krueger with Owl Be There Tampa. Owl Be There isn't a quick referral by zip code resource. Or a DIY search through Google. Lynda and her associate improve the lives of seniors with wise guidance around senior living and care.

Lynda shares the details of what it takes and how she works to find the right place based on client needs, lifestyles, spiritual beliefs, proximity to family and more.

Reach Lynda in the Tampa Bay area at Lynda.Krueger@OwlBeThere.com

Or search nationwide at Owl Be There and click on locations

It's always easier (less complicated) when you have a LTC insurance to help pay for needs at this time of life. Then the fa,ily can focus on what's best rather than what they can afford. Schedule here to ask me for help planning.

There are so many ways to design a long term care plan. However, different planning strategies offer their own unique benefits.

For example, LTC Partnership Protection is only available on stand-alone LTC plans.

Cash benefits and return of premium options are stronger with hybrid life/LTC and annuity /LTC plans.

We will work together to decide which plans and benefits will meet your family's needs best.

Listen and learn more and then schedule with me here to design your plan

Lisa asked if LTC insurance requires us to use the whole benefit every month or can we use less and stretch the benefit period to pay longer.

The answer is "that depends".

What kind of plan do you have?

What kind of care do you need?

Where are you living to receive care?

Who will be helping you?

Listen and schedule with me here

See what your state lets you keep here

This week, a client emailed me an article from Moneywise's retirement section that discussed Medicaid estate recovery.

Read the article here - Will the state take my house?

The reason we plan is so that Medicaid won't take our house or impoverish our family.

This link shows what different states let us keep and still qualify for Medicaid to pay for our care - What your state let's you keep

There are several ways to protect against the risk of needing help living at some point in our lives. Many people think, "I'm healthy. Why would I need long term care assistance?"

A lot of times, we don't need help because we're sick. It's because we get old and become more frail. It's hard to imagine we may be frail at some point, but our aging parents used to be stronger and more agile than they are today. Why would we be any different if we live a long life?

We need to prepare today for that day when life gets more complicated and difficult for us and for our families.

No one really wants to rely on the state for care and be "put" into a Medicaid bed in a nursing home. We want to stay in control throughout our lives.

Having a plan that uses some insurance and some savings/income wil help us to maintain that control We are paying for our own care, so we get to decide where that care will be provided.

Given a choice, it won't be in a nursing home. And the state won't be involved in out financial plan.

Let me help you prepare for your tomorrow today, whle you are yong enough and healthy enough to obtain a LTC plan that meets your unique needs.

Schedule here

I promise I'll start talking numbers and cases again next week.

We made it through the storms and things are almost normal in our community.

This week, I received a question about me rather than about long term care, and I felt the need to answer.

Do I get depressed talking about getting old or getting sick all day long?

I've been working as an LTC Specialist for over 20 years, and you would think I am sad every day.

Listen and learn why that is not the case, and then schedule time with me so I can help you and your family prepare for your tomorrow.

https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/60min

I an still catching up after two hurricanes came through Florida this month,m so I am replaying this episode from August 10, 2021. Kristina asks about mistakes people make or things people fail to consider when planning for future long term care needs. There are several, but three stand out to me as I have worked too often with people who looked at options many years ago and are looking again today. Others planned ahead but didn't consider future costs in their strategy. We also need to consider that, the longer we wait, the more likely a chronic health condition may prevent us from purchasing a plan in the future. Listen and learn, and schedule with me at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/60min Thank you Kristina, for helping to educate families who want to make wise choices.

Thank you for all the phone calls and messages asking how we are doing. Our home is fine. No damage and no flooding. We didn't lose power.

Lots of branches to clean up, and the last two days we've been putting all the stuff we had to move back where it belongs.

I hear generators and chainsaws whenever I am outside, and I feel kind of guilty for not having as much damage and problems as those around us.

We are helping others where we can, but Paul just had hernia surgery a few weeks ago.

The authorities are asking us to stay put until flooding, electricity and other needs are met.

I'll hopefully be back to helping you prepare for tomorrow with Long Term Care guidance next week!.

Just a quick update. We're ok so far. Hoping for a Cat 3 or less when it hits, likely a little south of us so we'll get a lot of rain.

Presuming all goes as well as can be, I'll update you all on Friday.