“Broad class of drug linked to 50% higher risk of dementia in older adults,” by Alicia Lasek, McKnight’s LTC News “A class of drug commonly prescribed to treat everything from depression to Parkinson’s disease may raise long-term risk of dementia by as much as 50%, according to researchers at the University of Nottingham. The drugs, anticholinergics, help to relax and contract muscles by blocking messages to the nervous system. They are known in some cases to have short-term side effects including confusion and memory loss, but the effects of long-term use have been unclear, wrote the researchers, led by Carol
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“Many U.S. retirees outlive their savings by more than a decade, report says,” by Lois A. Bowers, McKnight’s Senior Living “Older adults in the United States have life expectancies of as many as 11 years past the number of years that their retirement savings could last, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum, ‘Investing In (and for) Our Future.’ … To close the savings gap, the new report says, individuals and policymakers must take steps to ensure that individual retirement investments can provide returns retirees won’t outlive.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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“When the Long-Term Care Insurer Refuses to Pay,” by Dan Bosko, Next Avenue “I put in a claim with mom’s long-term-care insurer (a major player in the business), expecting approval reimbursing us in short order for the caretaker’s work. Much to my shock, the claim was rejected. Here was the sticking point and the insurer’s grounds for denial: According to the policy, the caretaker I’d hired did ‘not provide services to (my mother) as an employee of an entity that has an agreement as a provider of home health care services or hospice services under the Medicare program or that is licensed
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“Deal Combines Long-Term Care Insurance Distributors,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor “LTC Global Inc. says it has joined with Joseph Pulitano to form a new long-term care insurance distribution operation, LTC Agency Operations LLC. LTC Agency Operations will absorb ACSIA Partners and LTC Global Agency from LTC Global Inc., and Pulitano’s Advanced Resources Marketing business, LTC Global Inc. says.”   LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): As we reported yesterday.
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“Will My Mother’s Jewelry Count as an Asset for Medicaid Eligibility Purposes?,” ElderLawAnswers “Q: My mother is in assisted living and has about one year left before she spends down to $4,000 and applies for Medicaid. She has about $12,000 in jewelry that she insisted on taking with her. The facility listed the jewelry as part of her personal inventory. Will she have to sell her jewelry before she can qualify for Medicaid?  “A: Your mother should be able to keep her jewelry because personal items are not countable against the Medicaid asset limit, similar to clothing and furniture. The fact that
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“What if We Don’t Shore Up Social Security?,” by Bernice Napach, ThinkAdvisor “What population groups will suffer the most if the federal government does not address the shortfall in the Social Security Trust Fund for retirees? Not surprisingly, the youngest population cohort would suffer the biggest deficits because its members would be collecting smaller payouts for longer, according to a new report from the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI). The oldest age group would suffer the least. … Individuals ages 35 to 39 will have to save an additional $58,000 in their retirement funds by the time they reach 65 to make up
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“Fast Food Linked To Dementia, ‘Irreversible’ Brain Damage,” by Leian Naduna, Medical Daily “Scientists found that regularly consuming fast food such as burger, fries and soft drinks increases the risk of dementia, along with a lack of exercise. They are also more prone to type 2 diabetes and a decline in brain function.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Hold the Big Mac.
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“LTC Global and ARM Combine LTCi Distribution Businesses Under Pulitano,” Business Wire “LTC Global, Inc. announced today that it has formed LTC Agency Operations LLC (LTCAO), a new intermediate holding company, with Joseph G. Pulitano. LTC Global and Pulitano have contributed their Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) distribution businesses to LTCAO, including ACSIA Partners, LTC Global Agency and Joseph G. Pulitano Insurance Agency, Inc. d/b/a Advanced Resources Marketing (ARM). The combined businesses make up the largest independent LTCi marketing operation in the industry with over 500 career LTCi specialists. Mr. Pulitano will serve as LTCAO’s Chief Executive Officer, and Henrik
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“Walk this way: Wearable artificial ‘muscles’ for functional disabilities are in the works,” by Alicia Lasek, McKnight’s LTC News “Wearable artificial ‘muscles’ that can help those with functional disability to walk, sit and stand are in the works, thanks to the U.K. researchers who created ‘smart’ trousers, a set of leggings designed to help older adults stay mobile longer.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Robotic ADLs. How will the actuaries deal with that?
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“Trump’s new rule will give businesses and workers better health care options,” by Brian Blase, CNN Business “Starting on January 1, 2020, employers will be able to offer their workers HRAs to buy individual market coverage for themselves and their families. The administration’s new rule addresses a major inequity by, in effect, providing the same tax advantage that traditional employer-sponsored group plans receive — exclusion of premiums from federal income or payroll taxes — to coverage that workers in the individual market purchase from an HRA.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Very important
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