The Heart of Care: Real Stories from Those Who Give Everything

At 27 I was getting married, well entrenched in my career path and had no chronic conditions, no concerns about impending disease, nor did I think I would need long term care until well into the future (like my 401k).

At age 39 this dramatically changed. I couldn’t write, my balance was off, and I was seeing double. My early decision to secure long term care coverage means I have total control over how I receive care, and it also means I do not burden those I love with providing my care. If I had waited to purchase a policy until I was 40, I would have been uninsurable.

– Laura

I’ll never forget the day my stepfather had a stroke while golfing. Unfortunately, he was uninsurable and spent over $200,000 out of pocket before passing away. Witnessing this, my mother decided to purchase Long Term Care insurance for herself.

Eleven years later, she was diagnosed with Leukemia, Parkinson’s and Pulmonary Fibrosis. Living alone was no longer an option, and she required a home health aide. Thanks to her LTC policy, we filed a claim, and it covered her in-home care.

Then COVID hit – our greatest fear was that she’d need skilled care in a nursing home. Eventually, she required 24-hour home care, and her LTC policy covered nearly 75% of the costs, allowing her to stay safe at home. She passed peacefully in her own home – just as she wanted.

– Jim S.

My step-mom sadly developed dementia. As time progressed, it became apparent to her sister and their family that she needed to be in memory care since my dad had passed on already, and she clearly couldn’t live alone anymore.

I was able to visit her on a trip to St. Louis. While I was sad because of her dementia, the memory care location that she lived in was beautiful. It looked like a nice Marriott or Westin. Every resident had their own apartment decorated with things from home. The staff organized activities, games and outings. The food was wonderful. My step-mom was happy and cared for.

It was heartwarming to see her comfortable and well cared for. The facility was almost $8,000 per month. My father and step-mother were of modest means. But she was able to be in the lovely memory care unit, because she had LTC insurance. She stayed there almost 7 years, spending $700,000. Her LTC insurance paid for it all; the cost was of no concern. The family was so relived!

My mother-in-law was never healthy, so her obtaining LTC insurance was never an option for us. Recently, she needed more care and supervision due to dementia than my sister-in-law could provide. Since it was dementia and could continue for many years, affording the $8,000/month was not an option for our family. Sadly, the only location that would accept her was a Medicaid nursing home. We all have an image of the nursing home we don’t want to be in or want our family in. This facility is just that.

There are no games or outings, and the food is exactly like you’d expect. Sadly, she didn’t have any other options, nor did the family. She’s sad when she’s lucid and it hurts down deep to think of her there for years on end. It brings my wife and sister-in-law to tears all too often, understandably so.

LTC can last for years. While it is rarely a happy event, there are vast differences between the two experiences for the individual and their loved ones. Taking control of your situation and not putting the burden on your children or siblings, can mean so much in the families’ time of need. It can mean so much, for the quality of your care.

My step-father’s cancer progressed and he needed more care. Many patients end up in a facility or hospital as the level of care intensifies. However, he wanted to remain at home regardless of the cost. That cost for around the clock care from a nurse’s aide in the mid-west, was $12,000 month a decade ago. He had some retirement money, and he had LTC insurance that would kick in to supplement the cost of care at that exorbitant rate. While he wasn’t wealthy, none one worried about the cost because with the LTC insurance and his small nest egg, he could pay the $12,000 per month for a very long time.

Without the LTC insurance, we would have been very concerned, as would he. He didn’t last long enough to collect much from the LTC insurance, but we were happy to have him cared for in the manner he wanted whether it was for months or years. Thankfully, he had purchased LTC insurance many years prior.

– Kevin S.

After my mom took care of my dad for several years, she went out and bought LTC Insurance for herself. She even had the foresight to choose the inflation option.

With that insurance, Mom was able to “keep her independence” (as she put it), by having 8 to 16 hour a day home health care for many years. Mom and we kids were ever so thankful that she had that insurance!

– Pat H.

Prior to my role with AGIS Network, I had very little knowledge of Long Term Care Insurance and how important it is. After working with the AGIS team for over a year, I’ve come to realize Long Term Care costs are significant and can become a burden on your family if you don’t have an insurance plan or a lot of savings to cover this cost.

On a personal level my mom and stepdad are both experiencing difficulties with daily activities, like transferring and bathing. My mom has more physical needs and my stepdad has issues with dementia. My stepdad needs to be in a memory care facility (special residential facility for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients) but the cost in South Carolina is over $9,000 a month.

My parents can’t afford $108,000/year, so they compromised and sold their home and had to move in with my sister and close to our stepsister and they are taking turns caring for them.

While my siblings are helping, my parents they are alone most of the day and they can’t care for each other like they need to. If they had LTC insurance, they could have a home care worker come to help in the morning to make sure they are cared for while my siblings are at work.

This is where Long Term Care Insurance would have helped them. They could have continued living in their home without compromising and without burdening my siblings. My stepdad’s cognitive health is getting worse by the day and it’s a major concern. We know he needs to be in memory care, but the costs are more than they can afford. From my first-hand experience, I’m now an advocate for Long Term Care and encourage you to learn more and consider your future! 

– Shontee’ H.

Several years ago, my family began noticing changes in my dad. He started forgetting important tasks like paying bills and stopped engaging in the thoughtful conversations we had always enjoyed. After a series of tests, he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. It was hard to accept that someone so sharp and capable could be affected by such a debilitating illness at a relatively young age.

As we navigated this challenging new reality, our family took proactive steps to support both my dad and my mom, his primary caregiver. We installed assistive devices around their home, arranged physical therapy, and enrolled him in adult day care services. Despite these efforts, we know that in the future, he may require the care and attention of a dedicated facility.

This experience has shown us firsthand how crucial Long Term Care insurance coverage can be. Unfortunately, my dad didn’t have a policy but if he had, it would have alleviated many of the financial and logistical burdens we’ve faced. His coverage could have helped cover the cost of professional in-home care, giving us more flexibility in his treatment and support. 

Long Term Care is something that can affect anyone at any age. If you’re considering your future needs, I urge you not to wait. Having a plan in place is a gift to both you and your loved ones.

– Ian R.