Spanning The Globe To Bring You The Constant Variety Of Snafu

Wide Wide World Of Shorts (Short Answers!)
The Thrill Of Legacy, The Agony Of Probate

Note: These Questions Are From Real People. Unedited. The Glitchy Grammar, Strange Spellings, Problematic Punctuation And Other Offenses Against Literacy Appear In The Original Questions. Unedited.

My mother is in a nursing home, she is now almost out of money and we will be applying for medicaid soon. while we are working to get medicaid. and while the cash is gone, can the nursing home kick mom out for non payment?

second question. medicaid is looking at moms money from present to 5 years back. about 6or 8 years ago an account was open in my nieces name. my mom is the second name on this account, can they also take this money?

—Koncerned Kid

Dear Koncerned: Question #1: Once the Medicaid application is complete, with all 300 pages of attachments, Medicaid still has 45 days to respond. And it is often much longer. No surprise to the nursing home. No big deal. They will wait. A skilled nursing facility is much like a hospital when it comes to pay and refusing services. Government requires that the hospital and the home MUST provide services. Even if they do not get paid. Sure, there is a “kick mom out” procedure if she does not pay. But “involuntary separation” is complex and difficult for the home. And they always lose. So the nursing homes hardly ever bother. The Result: HUGE bad debts that will never be paid. HERE’S A THOUGHT: Ever wonder why nursing homes and hospitals are so expensive for us middle class folks? Gee… Maybe all the “free” services have something to do with why nursing homes cost $400 per day and a hospital aspirin is $12? [Who’s up for “free” college?]

Question #2: If mom’s name is on an account, caseworkers figure mom must own the money. Not true, of course, but that is how they think. If you can prove that the money came from the niece (or other person on the account)… hurrah! If not, too bad, so sad.

The absolute worst is when mom, dad, son, daughter, niece, nephew, butcher, baker, candlestick maker all put their social security, pension, IRA distribution, paycheck and everything else into the same account. And then pay the bills. Good luck, Chuck! Now Medicaid counts the same money against different folks. Nightmare! Do not put all the money together. Keep it separate.

Can I stop the sale of a house?

Rough situation: Grandmother is dead, Grandfather has pretty far along Alzheimer’s disease.

Aunt, who has power of attorney is trying to sell the house to a neighbor, and wants to tell the neighbor if any of us are interested so that they “know they have competition” somthing that will likely drive the price unreasonably high. Is their any legal mechanism to injunct the sale of the house to allow those of us, including myself in the family who are interested in purchasing it for fair market value to do so before it goes to the market?

—Sale Stopper

Dear Stopper: Medicaid absolutely requires that Aunt sell the house for fair market value. If she fails, Medicaid will hit Grandfather with a penalty period. “So what the heck is ‘fair market value’?” I hear you say. Well, there are many definitions.

My favorite says: Fair Market Value is the price that would be paid by a willing Buyer and a willing Seller with knowledge of all relevant facts.

You may not like that the housing market seems overheated. It sure seems that way to me! Time and again, several buyers will make multiple offers on a single property… and ALL of them higher than the listing price! But that simply IS the market.

The State says different. Every year you get a tax statement on your house with an assessment. By the state Constitution, that assessment (the “SEV”) is supposed to be one-half of your home’s Actual Cash Value. Everybody knows that is just bunk. You would never sell your house for twice the SEV. And neither will anyone else.

So there is only one way to find out what the Fair Market Value actually is. Put it on the market. Find out what other people would pay for the house. Simple as that.

ANSWER TO THE QUESTION YOU DID NOT ASK: Should we sell the homestead, when Grandfather is likely to need Medicaid? No! What Einstein came up with THAT idea? Oh… It was in a video on the Internet… Please tell me you are not falling for that! Er, uh, I mean… Selling the homestead is more than likely an ill-advised course of action. Harumph.

Sell homestead. Spend money for services Medicaid would pay for. Huh? It is possible, however unlikely, that this is a great idea, a brilliant strategy. But I doubt it. Consider that the homestead is a store of value. Leverage it to provide additional services to Grandfather while he is on Medicaid. Call me and I will happily explain in more detail.

What are the tax consequences of caring for my parents (both in hospice) and accepting funds from them from their ssi and saving

My brother and his wife now care for our parents in there home. They have health care poa, I have financial poa. I have agreed to pay them from my parents ssi and savings $10000 per month for the services. They are not trained care givers. I am concerned about tax consequences both employment as payee and as income for my brother.

—Care Medicaid Taxes

Dear CMT: Tax Question You Asked: Any money you pay to brother or his wife to provide services for mom and dad will be taxable income. Brother and Wife will have to pay federal, state, local income taxes. Plus federal self-employment tax. Did I mention Workers’ Compensation and Unemployment Taxes? And now that we have COVID, there’s a whole new raft of requirements. See IRS Publication 926, Household Employer’s Tax Guide. Enjoy! https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p926.pdf

Depending on how you set it up, these burdens will descend on your brother and sister-in-law and/or on your mom and dad. Yes. It is a nightmare.

Medicaid Question You Did Not Ask: Congratulations! You jumped through all the tax hoops necessary to hire family members! Paid all the additional costs. Filed all the paperwork. Now you are an expert! But what about Medicaid?

Unfortunately, even though you already complied with a telephone book’s worth of rules and regulations, you are not done yet. You must submit to Medicaid. If you do not, every nickel legitimately paid for services will be treated as a Medicaid gift. You read that right: Does not matter that you paid taxes, insurance, etc. All those dollars are a gift in the eyes of Medicaid.

Funny thing about the Medicaid rules for paying family members. I do not believe it is possible to comply with them. At least I have never seen anyone comply with these rules. And I believe that is on purpose. Medicaid does not like folks paying family members for care. That was a policy decision made years ago. And we are living with it today.

P.S. There is a Medicaid program of limited scope that will pay family members to be caregivers. But family members cannot pay family members without creating a penalty period. Generally speaking.

Can a person make you sell your primary residence that was left in a will to 2 unrelated people?

My mom’s husband died and left the home equally to her and to his grandson. This has been her primary residence for 25 years. The grandson is trying to make her sell it and move. But she wants to refinance buy him out. But he doesn’t want to do that.

How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth,
An Ungrateful Grandchild!

Dear Sharper: Can Greedy Grandchild evict Sainted Spouse? Maybe. (Don’t you hate that word?) Depends. (Another hateful word!) But in every legal matter, the actual words matter.

Maybe the Will is painfully simple. Let’s say the Will only states that the remaining property is divided between Surviving Sainted Spouse and Grasping Greedy Grandchild. Nice and simple, right? Thank goodness those lawyers did not make it all confusing and hard to understand.

Well, the simple truth is that now GGGrandchild can get the Probate Court to evict SSSpouse. And then sell the property. And then divide the money. Whoops! Where is SSSpouse supposed to live now? Did Old Grand-dad intend to throw his beloved to the wolves? Kick her to the corner?

Maybe the Will is a little more complex. What if the Will states that SSSpouse and GGGrandchild are joint tenants with rights of survivorship. Whoops Again! GGGrandchild cannot evict his step-grandmother (if there is such a thing), but he can now move into the homestead. With his Great Dane. And all his biker-gang friends. Old Grand-dad has a lot to answer for!

Perhaps the Will excludes Grasping Greedy Grandchild by giving Surviving Sainted Spouse an exclusive life estate. She alone can live in the homestead. Until she dies. But then she goes to a long-term care facility. And for the next 10 years, until she passes, no one lives in or uses the homestead. Except a few lonely raccoons. And a bat or two. Whoops yet Again! Because no-one is paying the taxes, the city takes the house. Because no one is living there, it becomes a crack house. Because no one is paying the insurance, it burns to the ground.

On the other hand, Old Grand-dad was a sharp old bird, a crafty codger was he. He put together a LifePlan™. No worries with long term care. At-home care. Assisted Living. Skilled Nursing. No problem!

Yes, there are more words in a LifePlan™. Some folks find it confusing. Truth! But now the results are tailored to the need.

The LifePlan™ provides a Residence Trust for the Surviving Sainted Spouse. She lives there as long as she maintains the property. Pays the taxes. Buys the insurance. What if she needs skilled care at a nursing home or assisted living facility? Now the house can be sold. The cash proceeds are held in trust to supplement the Medicaid benefits she receives. And GGGrandchild? He gets his share. Sooner, rather than later. When all the needs have been met.

It does take work to get it right. Albert Einstein supposedly said. “Things should be as simple as possible. But not more simple.” So it is with your LifePlan™. It is as simple as possible. While being as secure as possible.

Life-Plan™ Salvation For The Middle-Class

The rich do not need me. The poor I cannot directly help. That leaves you. Regular folks. The middle-class savers, workers, builders are the ones who benefit from LifePlanning™. You choose the path of reasonable optimism, while guarding against the potential downsides. Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst.

The LifePlan™ approach is the least expensive, most effective solution to the harsh reality of long-term care. Open your eyes to long-term care costs. Accept reality. Refuse to allow your lifesavings evaporate like a snowflake on a hot griddle. Recognize the reality of the caregiver spouse dying first, almost half the time and fix it. Reject nursing home poverty.

Not Chance, Your Choice
Uncover The Elephant!

There is nothing inevitable about nursing home poverty. Peace of mind and security are waiting for you. Right now. It is a choice. Despite what “everybody else” says. Despite their attempts to disguise the elephants in the room. For over thirty years, people have told me, “I’ve never heard of this before!” “If this is real, why doesn’t everyone do it?” “My lawyer/financial advisor/brother-in-law/accountant/tax person/banker/best friend/fill-in-the-blank never said anything like this…”

Well, here you are. Now you know. No excuses. Get the information, insight, inspiration. It is your turn. Ignore the message? Invite poverty? Or get the freely offered information. To make wise decisions. For you. For your loved ones.

No Poverty. No Charity. No Waste.
It is not chance. It is choice. Your choice.
Get Information Now.

(800) 317-2812

How Often Do You Get a Second Chance?

NO POVERTY. NO CHARITY. NO WASTE. Make PACE Your Power!

Dedication, Devotion

Just a couple weeks ago. A perfect Sunday morning in late summer. Bright sunshine, warm air, colorful flowers, green leaves.

Two women reading the paper. They could have been sisters. Remarkably similar. Children and grandchildren. Both are reliable volunteers for church and school. Both looking forward to their 50th wedding anniversary.

Comfortable homes with well-tended gardens. Paid for. Substantial retirement savings. No debt. (Thanks to coupon clipping and natural thrift!) Extravagant or expensive habits? None.

Except spoiling their grandchildren at every opportunity. Good-naturedly, of course.

You know these women. The sort of middle-class people who enrich the world by their simple presence. And generosity of spirit. Authentic kindness.

Now, both are primary caregivers for their husbands. Husbands who, after many years as partner and confidant, father and grandfather, best friend and “accomplice,” had fallen victim to Alzheimer’s Disease. Heart-breaking. Life-changing. No description necessary.

These women take their wedding vows seriously. Better or worse. Richer or poorer. Sickness and health. They said it. They meant it. They lived it.

Sure, the kids think it is corny. But these women took the words of JFK seriously: “We choose to do these things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” Alzheimer’s is hard.

To be sure, the kids have their own families and challenges. They live out of state. They would like to help, but… Now they think it is a good idea for Dad to be “placed”. What is it with kids these days?

Too Good To Be True?

One Sunday, both women were reading the same article. An account in The Michigan Elder Law Reporter describing the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, known as PACE.

The Reporter claimed that PACE provided free, at-home care. All pharmacy needs with no co-pays, donut holes, delays, or frustrating paperwork. Specialist care. Respite care. Durable medical equipment. Supplies. Occupational and Physical Therapy. The list went on and on. It even claimed that PACE was intended to help folks just like her. On purpose. Family members caring for loved ones at home. Staying at home.

Most outrageous, though, was the bald statement that their life savings, their home, their cottage, their security, need not be sacrificed to long-term care costs. That a lifetime of shared work could be preserved for themselves, their children, their grandchildren. How could that happen?!

They remembered similar articles … published over the summer and winter of 2020-2021. And the warning that the special COVID rules would expire on November first. Too late. But now comes the news that these rules were extended to April 2021! And yet again the COVID rules that expand eligibility were extended! “Until further notice…” Whatever that means, right?

Two Roads Diverged In A Wood, And I – I Took The One Less Traveled By…

And this is where the women made different choices.

One said to herself, “Stuff and Nonsense! I pity anyone foolish enough to believe this… Promises, promises! Too good to be true! I didn’t believe it last summer and I don’t believe it now! Fiddle Faddle.”

The other thought, “I heard of this back in July, then in the fall, and again in the springtime. I still didn’t act. Is it possible that I have another chance? Is Someone trying to tell me something? Maybe I should find out more…”

Five years quickly passed.

And That Has Made All Of The Difference

Another fine August morning. But now these women are not so much alike. They had made different choices. They got different results.

Pride Goeth Before A Fall

One was physically exhausted. Twenty-four hours a day. Seven days a week. Constant caregiving was taking a heavy toll. Worse was the mental stress. Facing bankruptcy. She gladly spent the life savings to pay home health care workers. Selling the cottage? No, she didn’t mind it. That money was long gone. Days at the lake a distant memory. The grandkids can learn to swim at the Y.

She was still bound and determined that her husband would never wind up in one of “those places.” Then the cash ran out. She gritted her teeth and took a loan against the house. Twice. Plus a line of credit. In desperation, she turned to cash advances on the credit cards.

In her pride, she did not share the burden with her friends or children. She chose a solitary journey. Until the inevitable day when the house of cards collapsed. She reached for the phone to call her eldest child.

She never imagined living in a senior housing project. Well, at least the bill collectors had stopped calling. Pathetic? Pitiful? Or just sad…

The other woman was at the cottage window watching her grandchildren fish from the dock. The last few years had been tough. Her husband no longer knew her or their children. She was making the best of a bad situation. But. Her health was good. The PACE folks were a blessing. No worries. PACE had installed a wheelchair ramp at their home. Several times a week, expert aides came out to attend to her husband’s hygiene. During that coronavirus problem so many years ago, they even helped with her grocery shopping. And housekeeping. In addition to all the medical support. She knew her future was secure. She did not face it alone. Life savings protected. Life choices respected. “Well,” she thought, “sometimes “too good to be true turns out even better.” Sympathy for her tough row to hoe. Tempered by respect for her wise decisions.

I Have Finished The Course, I Have Kept The Faith

Several months later.

At the first woman’s funeral, her friends agreed. It was tragic. Pitiful, even. She had run the race. She had fought the good fight. At the ultimate cost to herself, she did what she believed was necessary. Pouring out the savings and accomplishments of a lifetime in a few short years. But. Is there anything more tragic than needless suffering? Doing very well something that did not have to be done at all?

As one mourner observed, “She killed herself with work and worry, all to keep him out of “those places.” And where is he going now? One of “those places.”” It is more than sadness that we feel when a good person refuses the helping hand. It is more than regret when refusal leads to unfortunate consequences.

Not far away, at about the same time.

After the preacher’s kind words at the cemetery, the other woman turned from her husband’s grave. She too had run the race, fought the good fight. She had been there for him to the ultimate end. Hospice at the house. Familiar PACE folks who supplied the hospital bed, Hoyer lift and other necessary equipment and services. Given fair warning, the kids made it in from out of town. It was sad, heart-breaking. But not tragic. Surrounded by family and friends. Secure. Respected. Gracefully accepting sympathy without a hint of pity. At peace. What did the Lord have in store for her now? She did not know. But she looked forward to finding out.

The Difference

Most people, reading this article, will choose the path of the first woman. Most people, faced with long-term care costs, will close their eyes. Hope for the best. And watch their life savings evaporate like a snowflake on a hot griddle. Why does the caregiver spouse die first, almost half of the time? Why do hard-working, prudent, frugal, middle-class folks accept nursing home poverty? Most of the time?

Not Chance, Your Choice

There is nothing inevitable about losing your home, cottage, business, lifesavings, independence, security. All of that is a choice. Despite what “everybody else” says. For thirty-one years, people have told me, “I’ve never heard of this before!” “If this is real, why haven’t I heard of this before?” “My lawyer/financial advisor/ accountant/tax person/banker/best friend/fill-in-the-blank never said anything like this…”

Well, here you are. Reading The Reporter. So now you know. No excuses. The Reporter is here to provide information, insight, inspiration. Now it is your turn. To ignore the message. Invite poverty. Or get the freely offered information. To make wise decisions about your life. And that of your loved one.

It is not chance. It is choice. Your choice.
Get Free Information Now.

(800) 317-2812

Which Do You Choose: Helpless Or Heroic?

PITY IS FOR VICTIMS – YOU HATE IT
SYMPATHY IS FOR FRIENDS – YOU SHARE IT
RESPECT IS FOR DOERS – YOU EARNED IT

Some People Choose To Be Pathetic Victims, But Not You!

Everything I Needed To Know, I Learned In The Neighborhood Patterns Start Early

Give me a child until he is seven and I’ll show you the man.
Aristotle, St. Ignatius Loyola
As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.
Proverb

Have you noticed how the kids from your old neighborhood never really change? Remember that kid who was always borrowing your stuff (and giving it back busted)? Well, now he lives his life on credit card debt. That person on the job, you know who I’m talking about, the co-worker who never gets anything done. How can that one still get a paycheck? You think to yourself: “Either they are related to the boss… or there are photographs!” The type of guy who actually talks about their bankruptcy (only once or twice!). Rents his furniture. Takes every minute of time off. Late getting back from breaks. Customer for the Pay- Day Lender. Blames others. Pathetic. Pitiful.

You are the same way. Consistent. Same now as you were 50, 60, 70 years ago. Nothing much changes. Some kids looked at a snow day from school as a mini- vacation. You grabbed a shovel and went door-to-door. In the summertime, you pushed that old lawnmower through the neighbors’ grass. Baby-sitting. Paper route. Bagging groceries. Washing dishes. You got it done when you were a kid. You get it done now. Habits start young. And persist through life. Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly. Doers gotta do. That is you.

Since you were little, you have been taking care of business. You still do the hard stuff. You enjoy the rewards. Paid-off home. Lifesavings. And your family does too. Honorable. Admirable. We work hard, but who’s complaining?

Some Kids Are Just Pathetic – Pity

Poor poor poor me Poor poor pitiful me
***
Lord have mercy on me Woe woe is me
Warren Zevon – “Poor Poor Pitiful Me”

Growing up, we all knew the kid who was never ready. Remember that kid? Somehow it was your fault that his bike had a flat. That he couldn’t find his baseball glove. That he forgot to dig his own worms to go fishing. The gang (Remember when “gang” meant the kids in the neighborhood, not an organized criminal enterprise?) decides to camp out (Yes, we used to do things without playdates, grown-ups, background checks or professional camp-ologists). Guess who forgot to fill his canteen. Didn’t bring food. Or a blanket. Or a raincoat. Every time you try to be nice to the kid, he screws it up. And blames you. You bend over backwards, and it is still your fault. Never enough. But you keep trying. Because you can. Because it feels like the right thing to do.

Women… you knew girls who were the same way. (Sorry, I don’t have any personal experiences to share on how that works for girls.) You try to involve them, but it always ends poorly. With you on the receiving end. Always a bridesmaid, never a bride? More like: Always the victim, never the hero. And always someone else to blame.

And how did those kids make you feel? You pitied them. You felt sorry for them. You made excuses for them. You did your best, but it always fell short. Poor pathetic Pauley. Or Pauline.

Eventually the well runs dry. You have given all you have to give. Pauley (or Pauline) goes into the “hopeless case” category. They are exhausting. And you have a life to live. You may as well try to bail out the Titanic. After it hit the iceberg.

Beware of the danger lurking here! Can you be too “nice”? Good people like to help. Poor Pauley needs help. Lots and lots of help. At some point though, you are not helping. Soon, it’s not even about Pauley anymore.

I think this is what they call “co-dependency.” Some folks like it best when Pauley is pathetic. They feel superior. The more pathetic, the better they like it. That is why they make it easy for Pauley to be pitiful. Yikes! You figure, I can help Pauley get on track. They don’t want Pauley on track. They want a victim to rescue. Over and over.

Consider (some, not all) politicians and preachers. Golden words! Beautiful sentiments! So high- minded and concerned! Righteous Champions of the distressed, depressed, downtrodden. Unlike you, they are so virtuous, their own rules do not apply to them. Professing concern for the little guy, they grow wealthy in money and prestige. Bought-and-paid-for credentials. Virtue overflowing. Mansions stuffed with birthday party guests and designer ice cream. Beating up other people in the name of peace.

What can you do?

Well, the first thing you can do is: Don’t be that guy. Or gal. Make it happen. Take your lumps. Keep moving. Stop blaming. Be grateful. Consider others. Eyes on the prize. All the boring nonsense your mom kept drilling into your head. Surprise! Mom knew what she was doing. Remember Dad’s preachy lectures? Now you know the old guy wasn’t half wrong. Sometimes it is better to shut your mouth, keep smiling, take responsibility, and work through it. Drama is for soap operas.

You already know all this, but sometimes the obvious bears repeating. Do not be pitiful. As General George S. Patton once said, “Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. Now, I wouldn’t give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed.” You are a winner. Don’t forget it.

Some Kids Are Your Friends – Sympathy

I get knocked down, but I get up again You are never gonna keep me down
Chumbawamba – “Tubthumping”

None of us are perfect. We all screw up. But not as a way of life. Your best friend sometimes forgot stuff. Got the flat tire. Lost his glove. But you never pitied your best friend. And nobody felt pity for you. Because you are not now and never have been pathetic. Not a victim.

Your trials and tribulations are not habit. Not your way of life. Sure, bad stuff happens. And when it is your fault, you shoulder the blame. Sometimes you are filled with righteous anger at injustice. Accidents, disease, the evil of others. Thank God for friends to sympathize. Not pity, sympathy. And so, you get over the tough times. Put them in the rear-view mirror and drive on. Encouraged and supported by your friends and loved ones.

As we get older, we face different challenges. Not just for ourselves, but our loved ones, too. Physical infirmity. Mental incapacity. Alzheimer’s. Arthritis. Dementia. Some can be “fixed.” Get a knee or hip replacement. Some cannot. Memory loss. Parkinson’s.

Sympathy is an authentic expression of love. Freely offered. Freely accepted. Where would we be without it? It is as far from pity as can be. Sympathy is an acknowledgement of shared risk and experience. Burdens are lighter when they are shared. Sympathetic friends share your load, as you share theirs. Sympathy spreads the pain around. Your pain is my pain.

Pity leaves the victim in pain and satisfies the other’s superiority. Who knows why some people are tragedy vampires, deriving pleasure from others’ pain? It is easy to observe, but hard to understand. Let us answer the higher calling. Let us be the one who comforts from full friendship, from sympathy. Make it better.

Some Folks Take Care Of Business (TCB) – Respect

All I’m askin’ (oo)
Is for a little respect when you come home (just a little bit)
Baby (just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)

***
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to me R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Take care, TCB
Aretha Franklin – “Respect”

Respect is earned. Respect is serious. It cannot be forced. People can pretend to admire, respect, or value you, but the real thing cannot be faked. Respect is not inherited. Respect does not come from winning the lottery. Respect, dignity, admiration. Why do others ask your opinion? When something is broken, or a situation is difficult, why do they call you? Maybe others look to you because you have demonstrated your ability to solve problems. Perhaps they already “know” the answer, but want the reassurance of hearing you say it. You have earned this status. You are respected because you have done the hard stuff. Time and again. You have lived the Boy Scouts’ motto: “Be Prepared.”

Who says it is impossible to tell the future? Not fortune-telling, just everyday predictions. You knew the hot water heater was going to leak at some point. That old car of yours could not go on forever. Sooner or later, you knew TV was going on the fritz. Sometimes refrigerators explode. (But not usually!) You were not surprised. You were prepared. And not by having a credit card that wasn’t quite maxed out just yet.

A recent survey said that a surprisingly large percentage of Americans could not write a surprisingly small check in case of emergency. Remember that one? Hard to believe, but it had the ring of truth. And that is not you. Never has been. But it probably WILL be…

How The Middle Class Went Broke

How did the Greatest Generation die broke? How do Centennial Farms get broken up piecemeal and turned into subdivisions? How will your lifesavings evaporate? What will happen to transform you from respected, dignified, welcome family elder to broken- down charity case?

“Oh, that never happens!” say the financial advisors, attorneys, estate planners, and others who benefit from the way things are. Some do not know better. Others avoid the truth. The worst know what is really going on and conceal it from you. For their own gain.

Whatever happened to the heaps of money that were supposed to transfer from one generation to the next? You may have heard or read about the supposed massive wealth transfers that have been predicted in the newspapers, radio and TV. These tidal waves of riches never seem to materialize. Why?

The National Institutes of Health say that your last 12 months of life will consume 25% of all the money spent on your care for your entire life. See for yourself: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6610551/

Let’s say you die at age 80. That means that you spent the same as $75 for the first 79 years of life and $25 for the last year. And that money comes first out of your lifesavings.

We also know that 70% of Americans over age 65 will need long-term care services averaging 3 years. And for a lucky (?) 20%, those services will be needed for more than 5 years. Again, see for yourself: https://www.acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-willyou-need

That is where the money goes. Not to the next generation. Not to your favored charities. How did it happen? Was it the inevitable, unchangeable Laws of the Universe? Bad luck? Random chance? It is acceptable that soon you will become Pathetic Pauley? Pitiable Pauline? Maybe there is another way. Maybe it is possible to retain your cottage, hunting property, lifesavings, home. Maybe it is possible to maintain your self respect and the respect of others throughout your entire lifetime. Come what may.

The Only Answer: Middle-Class Values LifePlan™ Salvation for Regular Folks

I cannot help Pathetic Pauley. He made his bed. He will have to lie in it. We Americans will provide a level of care better than almost any other country in the world, but it will not be overly fancy. And Pauley is fine with that. Pauley gets a long-term care bill for $12,000 per month. Shocking? Yes, but he just puts it on the stack of other bills he cannot pay. Nothing to worry about.

Richie Rich does not need me. He is fine, too. Richie will not even see the long-term care bill for $12,000. Richie’s “people” will handle that for him. Like Pauley, Richie has no worries.

Who does that leave? Middle-class folks like you and me. It is the middle-class savers, workers, builders that need and can be helped by LifePlanning™. With LifePlanning™, your lifesavings remain intact. Available to supplement Medicaid or inadequate long- term care insurance.

Imagine getting that $12,000 per month long-term care bill in the mail. You know what it is, but boy is it tough to open the envelope. You finally tear it open, unfold paper, read the bill. Your stomach does a somersault, your knees turn to water, your heart races. You desperately search for a place to sit down. Relax! Your LifePlan™ will take care of it. You saw the signs. You rejected nursing home poverty. You choose the path of reasonable optimism, while guarding against the potential downsides. Hoped for the Best, Planned for the Worst.

The LifePlan™ approach is the least expensive, most effective solution to the harsh reality of long-term care. You opened your eyes when faced with long-term care costs. Accepted reality. Refused to allow your lifesavings evaporate like a snowflake on a hot griddle. Recognized the reality of the caregiver spouse dying first, almost half the time and fixed it. Rejected nursing home poverty.

Respect And Sympathy? Yes!

Welcome Pity? Never!

You are not sitting there with the nursing home bill in your hand, saying, “Coulda, shoulda, woulda…” You went to the LifePlan™ Workshop. Good idea!

You will never suffer the pitying looks of those who ask, “Did you have trouble selling the cottage?” Or “What will you do now that your lifesavings are gone?”

They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano But When I Began To Play…

How will they react when they learn the truth? You tell them that the cottage isn’t going anywhere. Your lifesavings are intact. Your spouse or loved one has a private room with a Certified Nursing Assistant to help with daily (not weekly!) showers and “sundowner syndrome” issues.

How will they react? Pity turns to Respect. Everyone expects you to go broke without complaint. They expect you to take whatever they choose to give, without listening to you. Your lifetime of work… gone in a flash. That is what they expect. But that is not what you will accept.

Respect. Not Pity. Reasonable payback for what you paid in. Dignity. Esteem. No one will be allowed to take advantage of you. That is the power of the LifePlan™.

It is never too late. There is nothing inevitable about losing your home, cottage, business, lifesavings, independence. Planning is the best route, but not the only one. Even if the dementia diagnosis was your wake-up call. Even if your attention was finally focused by the slip and fall broken hip. Do not give up the ship! It is never too late for you to be the hero… to fight and win!

Not Chance, Your Choice

There is nothing inevitable about nursing home poverty. Peace of mind and security are waiting for you. Right now. It is a choice.

Well, here you are. Now you know. No excuses. Get the information, insight, inspiration. It is your turn. Ignore the message? Invite poverty? Or get the freely offered information. To make wise decisions. For you. For your loved ones. For Respect.

No Poverty. No Charity. No Waste. It is not chance. It is choice. Your choice.
Get Information Now.

(800) 317-2812

Deliberate, Thoughtful Planning

Wishful Thinking – Get Others’ Sympathy
Deliberate, Thoughtful Planning – You Have Earned Others’ Respect

Twelve years ago.

The year is 2009. On a hot summer afternoon, warm bright air, sunny, a bit of a breeze. Two men retiring from the same homegrown Michigan company. They were very much alike, these two older gentlemen. Team builders. Known for getting the job done. Both had better-than-average, thirty-year careers. Personable, well-respected, and secure. Paid-for home, nice cottage. Everybody likes the lake. Boating. Swimming. No debt. Conservative investments. No bad habits (except spoiling the grandkids). Respected. Accomplished.

As new retirees so often are, both were filled with dreams for the future. Time to spend more time with the important people. Wives, kids, grandchildren. At the cottage, on the golf course, traveling. Enjoying the retirement freedom and security they had anticipated, saved for, earned.

Last week.

July 2021. The company had its one-hundredth anniversary. Both men were invited to celebrate.

They were still very much alike. Both healthy. Each had three grandchildren. Still devoted to their wives of over forty years. Both primary caregivers. At home. Just a few short years into retirement, their wives were stricken with Alzheimer’s.

The sympathetic support of family and friends has been gratifying and welcome.

But there were enormous differences.

One struggled to make ends meet. “On duty”
24 hours per day. Exhausted. Retirement savings, cottage, comfortable home – all gone. His wife gone to the nursing home. And with pension replaced by the 401(k), living on social security. Pitiful.

The other man recently hosted his granddaughter’s wedding. At the lake. One hundred and twenty guests. Life savings intact. Independent, secure. Yes, he was his wife’s primary caregiver. But she still lived at their home. And he had plenty of help. Using the program of all-inclusive care for the elderly (PACE). PACE provides services at home. No worries. Covid emergency rules let him keep the home, cottage, life savings. Respected.

Why is one desperate and the other secure?

Do you want pity or respect?

Have you ever wondered, as I have, what makes this kind of difference in a person’s life? It does not seem to be native intelligence or talent or dedication. I do not believe that one person wants security, and the other does not. No one is looking for pity. Both would like respect. How has each man used the knowledge they have?

Doesn’t the difference lie in what each person knows and how he or she uses that knowledge?

And that is why I am writing for you and for people like you. For that is the purpose of this blog: to give its readers knowledge – knowledge that they can use in life. LifePlanning™ that benefits themselves, their loved ones, their greater circle of friends. Have you heard about PACE or the new COVID emergency rules anywhere else?

Why didn’t your lawyer or financial adviser tell you?
They cannot tell you what they do not know.

Traditional estate planning lawyers are only concerned with avoiding probate and getting your leftovers to the kids. Things that happen after you have both died. Good to do, of course, but you are not dead yet. Maybe it would be helpful to know how to keep your assets while you are still in the land of the living. LifePlanning™ shows you how.

Financial advisors advise on finances. Liquidity. Rates of return. Stability. Long-term care is not their area of expertise. Let’s keep the financial folks focused on financials. Let them worry about increasing your nest egg. LifePlanning™ is making sure the eggs stay in the nest. Financial advisors want to put more in your bucket… LifePlanning™ makes sure the bottom doesn’t drop out.

This is where you find the rest of the story.

Take action today

Knowledge, concept ideas – all very fine. But without action? Nothing. LifePlanning™ incorporates the reporter’s unique perspective and knowledge, in real life. Getting what you have earned. Avoiding nursing home poverty. Living life to the full, whatever the circumstances. Thousands of Michigan families use LifePlanning™ techniques. Securing a better life for their families. Security is a choice. What do you choose?

Knowledge is power, if you use it

Emergency Covid rules gave you options without poverty.

Beginning last spring, we told you about an expansion of the program for all-inclusive care for the elderly – PACE. Emergency rules for the covid pandemic. We told you: you do not have to sacrifice your life savings, your cottage, your property. Over the last year, through pandemics, vaccines, elections, protests, and general shenanigans, many, many families responded. And have benefited.

But the emergency rules were set to expire on November 1, 2020. Then extended to April 1, 2021!

Bad news: you and hundreds more families were shut out. Not enough time. Too bad, so sad. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. Snooze and lose. A bitter pill. But… those rules were extended to April 1, 2020. And then?

The recent past has been full of surprises. Finally, a good surprise!

Good news: the emergency rules have been extended “until further notice.” Thousands of families let the first opportunity slip through their fingers. You let the second chance expire. Now you have a third chance. Should you wait to see how long the government let this go? Are you kidding?

No poverty, no charity, no waste
Not pity… the respect you have earned
Make rules work for folks who play by the rules

Too many middle-class families (one is too many and long-term care poverty smashes the security of thousands) go broke from endless long-term care bills. Pitiful. That does not happen to our Lifeplanningtm families. Respect.

It is simple: three goals, one strategy.

1. No poverty – you will not go broke.
When you are in control, life is good. You will not go broke from casinos, Bernie Madoff, or too many vacations. Long-term care rips the steering wheel from your hands and points you over the cliff. No choice, no chance.
LifePlanning™ keeps you firmly in the driver’s seat. In control. Lifesavings intact. As you have always been.

2. No charity – caregivers get paid. You already “bought the insurance.”
America pays for long-term care through your taxes. Withheld from every paycheck you ever
earned. More than your fair share over the years. You paid for other people. Folks you have never met. You, the middle-class, only want a fair shake. You paid in, you should get paid back if

3. No waste – any leftovers go to your beneficiaries. Not wasted on probate or taxes.
Why shouldn’t your family, your loved ones, benefit from your leftovers? Why should probate, taxes, government soak up what is left? Wise plans avoid strife and insure family harmony.

For 31 years, the LifePlan™ strategy has achieved your goals.

The rules can work for you. LifePlanning™ makes the rules work for the people who play by the rules. Other so-called experts, attorneys, planners, financial advisor accept the status quo. They do what everyone else does. The LifePlan™ approach dives deep. Seeking out and securing your family’s future.

What should you do next?

Safe and secure or broke and anxious?

About those older gentlemen I mentioned at the beginning. They retired at the same time and faced similar challenges. What made their lives so different? Knowledge. Useful knowledge. Action. Follow through. Better results. Why does one man, honorable and well-meaning, face a pathetic future… to be pitied by friends and relations? Why does the other man, with the same opportunities, face a secure future… respected and admired by sons and daughters, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren? And his neighbors at the lake?

Sound planning or urgent need?

Are you facing an urgent need? A loved one who has received a diagnosis? Have you retired and watched your friends and neighbors go through long-term care impoverishment?

Are you considering retirement and want to face the future without fear? Would planning that lasts a lifetime meet your criteria? Does it seem unfair that the middle-class should pay and pay while others reap the rewards?

Put us to the test

Thousands of families across 31 years have experienced the proof. Why not you? Call directly or email. If your situation is urgent, we will get right on it. Or choose to attend a LifePlan™ workshop in person or online.

Get the information you cannot get anywhere else.

Get the information you need without charge or obligation. Just ask. Your time and attention are precious, we will not waste either. Get the inside story no one else shares.

Get the LifePlan™ information now Call the LifePlan™ hotline today

(800) 317-2812