Like many of their friends, clients, and colleagues in their baby boomer years, Cathy and her husband Rogge Dunn have experienced the challenges that come with aging parents. Cathy’s father Sam was a retired Marine whose health deteriorated as Alzheimers and dementia set in. We set up this diary to chronicle Cathy’s journey with Sam. As you’ll see, Sam’s adventures offer a bittersweet mix of humor and heartache. We hope Sam’s Story is a reminder to live in the moment, savoring the good times we have with family and friends while taking every opportunity to build memories that will last a lifetime.

Learning to navigate the medical and social services Sam needed – and all of the many bills that come with them – was an eye-opening experience for Cathy, and we’ve learned it’s an experience many of you have shared in caring for an aging parent. The good news is, you can plan today for how you will meet those expenses in the future. One of the best things you can do for your spouse, your children, and for yourself is to at least have the LTC (Long Term Care) conversation. There are levels of coverage for all budgets, and we are here to help answer any questions you might have.

Thanks again to all for your kind words and support!

Long Term Care Insurance
Sam’s Obituary

Timeline

2017

May 5 2017

Keep Fighting Sam

Last Sunday while at church, Sam became unresponsive for 3 minutes. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital where extensive testing determined that his carotid artery is 90% blocked. Unfortunately, doctors will not be able to perform surgery until his health stabilizes. Cathy has been with him all week monitoring his care.

On Friday 5/5/17, Sam was discharged to a rehabilitation facility. There, he will be monitored 24/7 as he is very high risk for another stroke. His next appointment with his cardiologist is 5/16/17. They hope to see some improvement by this time.

The game plan is to get him healthy enough to move forward with surgery by the end of the month. We should have more updates next week.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

April 10 2017

Selfie Time!

Even waiting can be fun if you are with the right person.

March 22 2017

Cheers!

Nothing like a shake and a sunny day with Sam!

2016

September 12 2016

Enjoying Good Weather and a Show

It’s a great day for an outdoor show!

August 2 2016

Admiring The Art

We couldn’t resist stopping for a photo op.

July 29 2016

Sam Goes Off-Road

Time for some extreme fun!

July 28 2016

Lunch Break

Today Sam got a much needed break from hospital food.

March 30 2016

Enjoying a Good Burger

A good burger, shake and excellent company makes for a great day!

LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE & OTHER OPTIONS FOR AGING WITH SECURITY

When planning for your retirement future, you may also want to consider investing in long-term care insurance. While your retirement savings from an annuity, for example, cover typical expenses such as housing, leisure, or travel, you will want to have another plan in place in case of critical illness or injury.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly 70% of people 65 and older will require long-term health care during some part of their lives. At the same time, less than 33% of Americans 50 and older have plans in place to secure their retirement funds in case of unsuspected injury and critical illness.

It’s impossible to predict whether you will need nursing home, assisted living, or in-home care, but as the odds are in no one’s favor, long-term care insurance could be an additional safety net on top of the funds you are saving for your retirement. You don’t want to end up in a situation where your retirement funds run out while paying for unforeseen health complications. Long-term care insurance is created with a wide variety of personal care services in mind. Pricing can be affected by factors such as your age, current health, and the length of coverage. You can also upgrade your existing life insurance in ways that allow you and your family to take advantage of your death benefit early.

Accelerated Benefits Riders (ABRs) allow you to access all or a part of your death benefit should you fall victim to a qualifying terminal, chronic, or critical illness. Death benefits that are available under these circumstances can also be referred to as “living benefits.” DeWitt & Dunn can provide the information you need to make these important decisions on your own, taking your retirement future into your own hands. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.