“Life-LTC Hybrid Sales Level Off: LIMRA,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “LIMRA found that the number of ‘individual life insurance combination’ policies sold in the United States increased 2% in 2018, to 404,000. The total amount of new premium revenue associated with those combination policy sales fell 2%, to $4.3 billion. In 2017, LIMRA reported an 18% increase in the amount of new premium revenue associated with new combination policy sales. …  A copy of the LIMRA life-LTC combination products survey summary is available here.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): More policies, less premium.
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“Survey: Where assisted living is most expensive, least expensive,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnight’s Senior Living “Average monthly assisted living costs nationwide range from $4,136 for a studio apartment to $5,148 for a two-bedroom unit, but costs vary greatly based on location, according to the results of Lincoln Financial Group’s annual What Care Costs study, released Tuesday. … The whatcarecosts.com/Lincoln website includes long-term-care cost information for home health aides, assisted living communities and skilled nursing facilities for states and metropolitan areas across the country. Data can be sorted by type of care and geography. To see the data, enter the code ‘Lincoln’
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“New standards aim to improve surgery for the oldest patients,” by Lauran Neergaard, ABC News “The American College of Surgeons launched a program Friday to encourage hospitals around the country to adopt 30 new standards to optimize surgery on patients who are 75 and older — information seniors and their families eventually will be able to use in choosing where to get care. Seniors account for more than 40% of surgeries, which is expected to grow as the population ages. Certainly there are plenty of robust elders who can withstand major operations.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President,
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“Frequent Sleeping Pill Use Linked to Increased Dementia Risk,” by Megan Brooks, Medscape “Older adults who reported taking sleep medications ‘often’ or ‘almost always’ were 43% more likely to develop dementia than those who never or rarely used sleep medications (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 – 2.02). White participants reporting frequent use had a 79% higher dementia risk (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.21 – 2.66). There was no association in blacks (HR = 0.84; 95% CI, 0.38 – 1.83). The association did not differ by sex. … The associations were independent of age, sex, education, socioeconomic
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“In the Lingering Light,” Today’s Caregiver  “In the Lingering Light is a valuable field guide for Alzheimer’s caregivers, written by one who has gone before you. Cynthia Fantasia packs courage and faith to help sustain you on the uncertain road ahead. You will receive practical guidance throughout the progression of Alzheimer’s, stories from traveling companions, nuggets of truth to care for yourself along the way, and prayers to guide you. In the Lingering Light will become a treasured resource and reminder that you not alone.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Brief book review and
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“What You Don’t Know About Your Parents’ Finances Could Ruin Yours,” by Jeff Rose, Forbes “‘If you don’t take the time to talk to your parents about their finances, your own finances could take a hit,’ said Cameron Huddleston, author of the new book ‘Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations With Your Parents About Their Finances.’ Why? There’s a good chance you’ll have to get involved with your parents’ financial lives as they age, she said. That can affect your own financial well-being if you aren’t prepared for that role.”   LTC Comment (from
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“Scientists close in on blood test for Alzheimer’s,” by Marilynn Marchione, Associated Press “Scientists are closing in on a long-sought goal — a blood test to screen people for possible signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. On Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, half a dozen research groups gave new results on various experimental tests, including one that seems 88% accurate at indicating Alzheimer’s risk. Doctors are hoping for something to use during routine exams, where most dementia symptoms are evaluated, to gauge who needs more extensive testing. Current tools such as brain scans and spinal
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“Liz Weston: 3 steps to keep ‘solo agers’ happier and safer,” by Liz Weston, Washington Post “Many people won’t have children to look after them as they age, either because they didn’t have kids or the ones they have aren’t available or reliable. Without that help, they face greater risks of isolation, financial exploitation, malnutrition and other ills, says Geber, author of ‘Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers.’ Who will let them know when it’s time to stop driving? Who will notice signs of physical or cognitive decline and find appropriate help? Who will pay their bills, vet their financial
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“Can Alzheimer’s be stopped? Five lifestyle behaviors are key, new research suggests,” by Linda Carroll, NBC News “In 2017, 22,000 Medicaid-only patients in need of skilled nursing care were twice as likely to be admitted to one-star than five-star homes, and health department data from that year showed the contrast was more marked in certain regions. In Western New York, for example, Medicaid beneficiaries were four times more likely to be admitted to one-star homes. …State and federal regulations prohibit nursing homes from discriminating against individuals based on how they will pay their bills.”     LTC Comment (from Stephen
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“Can Alzheimer’s be stopped? Five lifestyle behaviors are key, new research suggests,” by Linda Carroll, NBC News “There’s no cure for or drug to stop Alzheimer’s disease, but it may be possible to hold off dementia — even in people who have a genetic risk, researchers reported Sunday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. The key is not any one factor, several studies show, but following a combination of healthy lifestyle habits. And the more healthy habits a person adopts, the lower the risk of cognitive decline. … Participants were given lifestyle scores that depended on how many of five possible healthy
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