lifecare_makes_sense

Preservation of AssetsLifecare is a program that aids in the

protection of financial assets. It answersthe most asked question of retiredindividuals: “Will my assets last as long asI do?”

By purchasing lifecare for a set fee,individuals have the assurance ofknowing that the remainder of theirincome will be protected in the event of acatastrophic illness which might requirelong-term skilled nursing care.

Using Today’s Dollars to Purchase

Tomorrow’s CareSuppose you could buy a new car this

year and pay the sticker price from 20years ago? You’d jump at the chance!Purchasing lifecare guarantees you willhave care in the future when you need it.You will have already paid for that futurecare with an investment made in today’sdollars.

Even as prices for skilled nursing careand healthcare increase, you have alreadylocked in your investment.

Lifecare answers the question ofwhether a person will be able to affordlong-term care in the future. The price oflifecare at Shell Point includes long-termcare for life.

Optimizing Options andIndependence for Both SpousesRarely do both spouses in a marriage

remain equally healthy for an equally longperiod of time. By purchasing lifecare,couples ensure that the appropriate levelsof amenities and services will be availableto both spouses simultaneously, for life.

This allows the couple to maintaintheir independence for much longerperiods of time. Lifecare provides asafety net of services that allows thecouple to maintain a close, lovingrelationship while either spouse receivesthe care he or she needs and deserves.This alleviates one spouse from having toprovide non-stop care for the other, yet itallows them to be together. And finally,both spouses can rest assured that shouldone predecease the other, the remainingspouse’s care has been guaranteed.

Securing Quality of Life Today and in the Future

Quality of life is a moving target. Whatmakes us happy as children no longerapplies when we become teenagers. As webecome adults, we leave childhood desiresbehind. During our thirties we may focuson our growing family and keeping up withmounting responsibilities. By our fortiesand fifties, we feel a sense of satisfaction as

we progress in our vocations and startgetting ahead.

Our definition of quality of lifecontinues to change with each passingdecade. This continues to be true as wemature. Lifecare provides the opportunityto maintain quality of life as we progressthrough the continuum of life. The servicesprovided by a lifecare community, and acontract for care, assure the details thatprovide meaningful quality of life will beavailable as the years pass.

At a certain point in our experience, wemay desire to exchange the full-timemaintenance of a home for the addedbenefit of amenities and an upscale lifestyleafforded by a resort-like setting. Decadeslater, our health may dictate the need forskilled nursing care. As energy levelsdecline, the need for services increases.Ultimately, lifecare is designed to meet theneeds of the individual at every level of theretirement experience.

Lifecare Makes SenseSeniors Face Unique Issues When Planning for the Future

Many people are not aware of the expenses involved inlong-term care, and most have assumed they will not need suchcare. They are unprepared for these expenses, and often theharsh reality comes at a time when they are most vulnerable.Planning for the unknown is vital, yet many adults choose

to take the “wait and see” approach when it comes to theirfuture healthcare. This can lead to disastrous results.• In 2008, the national average cost of a semi-private room ina nursing home was $69,715 annually. With an average stayof 2.4 years,1 that's more than $167,000 per average stay. 2

• Roughly 40 percent of those reaching the age of 70 are ex-pected to need some type of long term care during the restof their lives; yet only seven percent of Americans havedone any planning at all for their long term care needs. 3

• Seven out of 10 couples will see one partner go into a nurs-ing home. 4

• Almost 50 percent of seniors 85 and older have Alzheimer’sor some form of dementia. 5

• 76 percent of Americans do not expect to need long-termcare. This belief can be affected by a variety of factors, in-cluding the assumption that family will take the responsi-bility of caring for an elderly adult. 6

• About 40 percent of people needing long term care areunder age 65. They may need chronic care due to a seriousaccident, a stroke, or developing multiple sclerosis, etc. 7

• 70 percent of all people admitted to a nursing home go homebroke within three months. 50 percent of all couples are im-poverished within six months after one spouse is admitted. 8

1The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "Health Care & The 2004 Elections," October 10, 2004 2The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 3GE Capital, 2002 4The New England Journal of Medicine 5The Wall Street Journal 6The American Health Care Association 72002, www.opm.gov/insure/archive/ltc/about/index.htm 8The Wall Street Journal, June 2000

LONG TERM CARE STATISTICS