November is Long Term Care Awareness Month

Presented by Tim Dreher The month of November is Long Term Care Awareness month and as we move into the holiday season, now may be an opportune time to begin that LTC conversation that you’ve been putting off with your clients! This is a time of the year when many families gather together to celebrate the season so what better time to encourage your clients and their families (especially your client’s children) to have “the talk”. Industry studies have shown that only about 10% of consumers have had a conversation with their parents or in-laws regarding long term care. Tell them not to wait until it’s too late just because it is a somewhat uncomfortable conversation to have. Most parents don’t like the idea of needing help from their children when they have spent their entire adult lives raising and taking care of their kids. That possible role reversal can be very difficult for a parent to accept. Although the conversation may be difficult, it could also be one of the most important conversations spouses could have with each other, children could have with their parents, and you as their advisor could have with them. That’s where you, as the agent and advisor, come in. Remind them that they need to talk about not only how and where they would like to receive care, but also, and just as important, who is going to provide that care, and most importantly, how will it be paid for. By doing so, they are preserving the legacy they have worked so hard to protect. Having a plan in place should a long term care event occur goes a long way to alleviate much of the worry that can come with an uncertain future. There is a great amount of misinformation and misunderstanding regarding available long term care services and it’s your job to be there for them as a source of correct information and advice. The time to discuss, prepare and plan with your clients is now, not waiting until a long term care event arises and a family is forced to make many decisions that could be very costly. Take this holiday season to have the “talk” with your clients so they in turn can have an informed discussion with their family. Both you and your client will be glad the conversation happened.