“Research Centers Post Long-Term Care Policy Papers,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor Quote: “November is Long-Term Care Awareness Month, and two organizations have celebrated by putting out LTC policy options papers. The Paragon Health Institute, a health policy research center with strong ties to Republican policymakers, has published ‘Long-Term Care: The Problem,’ a paper by Stephen Moses, the president of the Seattle-based Center for Long-Term Care Reform. A team at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a research center with ties both to Republicans and Democrats, has released ‘Improving PACE: Improving Access to Enrollment in Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly.’ … Lisa Harootunian and other
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“Paper analyzes government policy’s role in creating LTC problems,” by Kathleen Steele Galvin, McKnight’s Senior Living Quote: “The Medicaid program is largely responsible for problems in long-term care, according to a paper recently published by the Paragon [Health] Institute. … Public financing created and worsened inherent problems in long-term care, according to Moses. Medicare and Medicaid programs have both thwarted private sector financing and services tailored to consumer preferences, he said. … Moses’ next paper, Long-Term Care: The Solution, is expected to be published next year and will suggest reforms to address the problems caused by what he considers misguided government policies.”  
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“Study: Most Pre-Retirees Unprepared to Retire by Age 65,” by Ted Godbout, National Association of Plan Advisors Quote: “Findings from a new study show that the majority of retirees and pre-retirees are not financially prepared for retirement and lack sufficient savings to fully retire at age 65. According to Disconnected: Perceptions vs. Reality in Retirement Planning from The Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL) and Finance of America Reverse (FAR), the median retirement savings of those surveyed were valued at $128,000 and more than half (55%) of respondents reported their financial situation as ‘fragile’ or being ‘just able to get by financially.’”  
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“Legal Ease: Medicaid Asset Protection Planning — what is it?,” by Rebecca A. Hobbes, The Times Herald Quote: “In order to avoid having a Medicaid penalty, it is important to first understand the Medicaid rules and know what transfers will interfere with your eligibility. It is also important to make sure that you engage in Medicaid asset protection planning in advance of when you will actually need long-term care. A good age to begin planning is around age 65, although everyone’s situation is different. … Speaking with an elder law attorney can help you and your loved ones explore options
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“Elder Care: Nursing homes, Medicaid and the middle class,” by Karen Kaslow, The Sentinel Quote: “The basic understanding is true that in order to receive Medicaid, an individual is only permitted to own a minimal amount of assets. However, the government also makes it possible for middle class families to qualify for this benefit. … Various tools and strategies are available to help protect assets from the cost of long-term care and create eligibility for Medicaid. The timing of an individual’s planning, as well as the situation and their specific goals, will influence the type of strategy which should be
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“As seniors’ presence in nursing homes drops, young people with disabilities stuck with few alternatives: study,” by Kimberly Marselas, McKnight’s LTC News Quote: “Younger nursing home residents, despite dramatically different needs than their older counterparts, have been overlooked by existing efforts to deinstitutionalize care, according to a study published in Health Affairs Monday. … And while SNF use among seniors had fallen in almost all states between 2013 and 2019 due to policy shifts that favor in-home care, the number of younger residents in facilities remained stagnant and even grew in some places. … The long-term trend of declining nursing home use among
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“Pick Up the Phone: Older Clients Want to Hear From You,” by Allison Bell, ThinkAdvisor Quote: Your older clients might be less interested in meeting you face-to-face than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic started, but they might be more interested in talking to you on the telephone. Dr. Afik Gal, a co-founder of Assured Allies, a Boston-based long-term care insurance claim prevention company, talked about older Americans’ communication preferences in an email interview.”     LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: Click through for details from Dr. Afik Gal of Center-Corporate-Member Assured Allies.      
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“Exercise caution with zero-premium Medicare Advantage plans,” by Tom Murphy, AP News Quote: “Health insurers will flood the Medicare Advantage market again this fall with enticing offers for plans that have no monthly price tag. The number of so-called zero-premium plans has been growing for years, and they can appeal to retirees who live on fixed incomes. Experts say shoppers should exercise caution, because they might find better coverage at a relatively small monthly cost.”     LTC Comment, Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform: If it sounds too good to be true, well …    
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  “Census finds more than 3 million older adults on the move each year,” by Diane Eastabrook, McKnight’s Home Care Quote: “Older adults might not move as often as their younger counterparts, but more than 3 million still relocate each year, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Domestic Migration of Older Americans report considered migration patterns between 2013 and 2019 and found about 6% of people 65 and older move annually. That compares to 16.5% for people between the ages of 1 and 54. In the older cohort, people 85 and older moved the most — about 8.4%
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“‘The Forgotten Middle’: Seniors Facing Housing, Care Crisis,” ElderLawAnswers Quote: “Seniors who have an income above the Medicaid threshold but lack a high enough income to have substantial personal savings are considered ‘The Forgotten Middle.’ These are elders who are more likely to struggle to afford long-term care that may become necessary as they age. According to a recent analysis by NORC at the University of Chicago, which updates results from its 2019 ‘The Forgotten Middle’ study, the number of individuals who will fall into this middle-income bracket as seniors will grow by nearly 90 percent over the next 10
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