“Gender gap in Alzheimer’s disease rates, caregiving needs more attention,” by Roberta Diaz Brinton, STAT

“Women make up nearly two-thirds of the more than 5 million Americans2 with Alzheimer’s disease. A woman in her 60s is now about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s as breast cancer during her lifetime. And as described in a Viewpoint article3 published this week in JAMA Neurology, women shoulder the majority of caregiving for those with dementia. In fact, two and a half times2 as many women as men reported living full time with a person with dementia. . . . The link between differences in sex biology and Alzheimer’s is complex, and likely a product of the interplay between the
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Medicare Advantage beneficiaries less likely to use post-acute care, analysis finds,” by Emily Mongan, McKnight’s LTC News

“More Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are being discharged from the hospital directly to their homes, instead of to a post-acute care facility, than traditional fee-for-service patients, according to a new analysis from Avalere. The study found 77% of Medicare Advantage patients are sent home directly from the hospital, without home healthcare services or other forms of post-acute care. That’s compared to 63% of traditional Medicare beneficiaries.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): The article speculates MA incentivizes longer, better hospital care to obviate or reduce the need for post-acute care. Medicare Advantage beneficiaries less likely
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Thin People Not More Prone to Alzheimer’s, Study Finds,” by Mary Elizabeth Dallas, HealthDay

“A study of nearly 100,000 people overturns the notion that being thin somehow raises a person’s odds for Alzheimer’s disease.  Instead, the Danish research suggests, people with early stage Alzheimer’s disease can have less appetite and lose weight. So, it’s the illness that may be causing the thinness, not the other way around.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Cause vs. correlation often confuses Alzheimer’s research conclusions. Thin People Not More Prone to Alzheimer’s, Study Finds #goldencareagent #alzheimer’s
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“In-home care of dementia patients falls mainly on women, researchers say,” MedicalXpress

“The responsibility of providing care to the vast number of patients with dementia expected over the next 20 years will disproportionately fall on working women, according to researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine.  ‘The best long-term care insurance in our country is a conscientious daughter,’ the authors wrote in a perspective piece to be published May 8 in JAMA Neurology. The article points to a lack of affordable in-home care options in the United States other than unpaid family members, primarily women.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Why do we have
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Caring for Aging Parents Costing Canadians $33B Annually,” Advisor Magazine

“Caring for aging parents already costs Canadians $33 billion a year in direct out-of-pocket expenses and time off work, a number that will only grow over time, finds a new report by CIBC Capital Markets. The report, Who Cares: The Economics of Caring For Aging Parents, co-authored by CIBC Deputy Chief Economist Benjamin Tal and Senior Economist Royce Mendes, estimates the direct and indirect costs associated with the elderly to mushroom by more than 20 per cent in real dollars over the next 10 years due solely to changing demographics.” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Who Pays For Aging?,” by Swiss Re, Advisor Magazine

“There’s no doubt that our growing aging population could represent a major market opportunity for financial services. Of all the sources that help fund a longer life, insurance has only a single-digit share. If insurers want to increase their aging business, they will need to find new ways to provide relevant and attractive new paths to financial security for older people, rather than purely fight for market share among traditional competitors. The aging wallet analysis shows the starting point for insurers to win the hearts and minds of older consumers and their families, and become a larger part of the
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

“Helping families navigate healthcare maze may offer competitive advantage, experts advise,” by Elizabeth Leis Newman, McKnight’s Senior Living

“As assisted living operators look to the future, one strategy may depend on helping families navigate the ability to pay for care for their loved ones, housing experts said Tuesday. Many senior living communities originally promised adult children the idea of ‘we’ll care for Mom,’ said National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care CEO Robert Kramer. Today, Kramer advised that communities’ plans have ‘got to go way beyond that. It’s like a concierge service but we’re coordinating it.'” LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform): Part of that “concierge service” should be advising those
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Categories: Industry News and Long-Term Care.

GoldenCare Newsletter | May 8, 2017

In this GoldenCare Newsletter Edition From GoldenCare: Join us for brand new webinar topics including a brand new short-term Home Health Care product and special guest speakers. See our full list of hot topics. Partnership Reminder:  LTCi agents who took their initial 8 Hour Partnership Certification prior to May 2015, a 4 hour refresher course must be completed.  See the Newsletter for requirement details. Good News!  Our Spring 2017 GoldenCare Gazette is now available!  Get your copy in the Newsletter. From Mutual of Omaha: Omaha is currently experiencing a delay in the turnaround time for underwriting decisions.   More information is
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Categories: Genworth, GoldenCare News, Industry News, Long-Term Care, Medicare Supp./Adv., and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

Quick Tip: Quoting with MutualCare® Solutions Software

Scenario: You are running long-term care insurance quotes for a client using the Custom Solution plan with Mutual of Omaha. The MutualCare® Solutions software makes it easy… but you can’t quite get the quote to match a competitor’s. “Why does it show ‘3.1’ years? I want an even 3 years.” Quoting “apples to apples” – or as close as possible in today’s market – eliminates the need for an additional explanation, and makes the concept easier for your clients to understand. Did You Know: You can use the small down-arrow next to the Policy Limit field to select from numerous
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Categories: GoldenCare News, Long-Term Care, and Mutual of Omaha (& Affiliates).

EssentialLTC Product Approved In Delaware

National Guardian Life Insurance Company (NGL) is pleased to announce that an additional state has approved their new long-term care insurance plan, EssentialLTC! As of May 30th, 2017, EssentialLTC will become available for sales in the state of Delaware! This is also the newest state to have approved Partnership status. Watch for additional announcements as more states approve the new EssentialLTC product, and begin approving Partnership status. #goldencareagent #ngl
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Categories: Long-Term Care and National Guardian Life.