Anonymous wrote:For anyone interested in these issues, this is also worth a read:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights

Holy shit, that is scary as hell.

For anyone interested in these issues, this is also worth a read:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/10/09/how-the-elderly-lose-their-rights

What do they do in other countries -- like those in Europe? They usually have a better system than we do.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the PPs from pages earlier. I appreciate what someone said about some people just wanting to be left alone to die. The problem is that it rarely happens that way. You are much more likely to have a slow decline and chronic illness and to need help (unless we are talking about assisted suicide, but even then, I question whether, when actually confronted with it, your average old person with things that can make living alone hard, would actually want AS). It is both irresponsible and unfair to your loved ones to make no plans on the theory that you will die alone in your home.

Additionally, DNRs are great provided the first responders or ER have them. Often in a crisis the person won’t think of it or for whatever reason it won’t follow meaning you will have tough decisions regardless.

THIS. I'm a hospice volunteer and people fight it out until the bitter end. Many of you underestimate how hard the drive for survival is, even when it is obvious that all is lost. People want to live up until the last few weeks, sometimes fighting out out the very last days.

Assisted Suicide is not a choice the majority of people want to make. when they are actually faced with death. Humans are wired to want to live. You only think suicide is a great idea when you are not actually faced with it.

Guess it just depends. When my grandfather's wife of 50 years died he lost the will to live. He stopped eating and died within 2 months of her. He was 90 so I won't say he was spry until she died but he was doing ok.

Anonymous wrote:A dnr won't help in many of the instances that put a loved one in assisted living.

Assisted suicide in the us, even where permitted, doesn't allow for it in early stages of dementia. You also need
Documented proof from doctorS once you have it...what would your plan be pending that period? That would be a few yrs in in most cases.

It's such a low probability to have a full personality change and require an assisted living. I am not planning for that. I would not have money for it anyway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the PPs from pages earlier. I appreciate what someone said about some people just wanting to be left alone to die. The problem is that it rarely happens that way. You are much more likely to have a slow decline and chronic illness and to need help (unless we are talking about assisted suicide, but even then, I question whether, when actually confronted with it, your average old person with things that can make living alone hard, would actually want AS). It is both irresponsible and unfair to your loved ones to make no plans on the theory that you will die alone in your home.

Additionally, DNRs are great provided the first responders or ER have them. Often in a crisis the person won’t think of it or for whatever reason it won’t follow meaning you will have tough decisions regardless.

THIS. I'm a hospice volunteer and people fight it out until the bitter end. Many of you underestimate how hard the drive for survival is, even when it is obvious that all is lost. People want to live up until the last few weeks, sometimes fighting out out the very last days.

Assisted Suicide is not a choice the majority of people want to make. when they are actually faced with death. Humans are wired to want to live. You only think suicide is a great idea when you are not actually faced with it.

All forms of life (including viruses, bacteria, micro cells, etc) are wired to fight to survive. This will never change.

Anonymous wrote:I’m one of the PPs from pages earlier. I appreciate what someone said about some people just wanting to be left alone to die. The problem is that it rarely happens that way. You are much more likely to have a slow decline and chronic illness and to need help (unless we are talking about assisted suicide, but even then, I question whether, when actually confronted with it, your average old person with things that can make living alone hard, would actually want AS). It is both irresponsible and unfair to your loved ones to make no plans on the theory that you will die alone in your home.

Additionally, DNRs are great provided the first responders or ER have them. Often in a crisis the person won’t think of it or for whatever reason it won’t follow meaning you will have tough decisions regardless.

THIS. I'm a hospice volunteer and people fight it out until the bitter end. Many of you underestimate how hard the drive for survival is, even when it is obvious that all is lost. People want to live up until the last few weeks, sometimes fighting out out the very last days.

Assisted Suicide is not a choice the majority of people want to make. when they are actually faced with death. Humans are wired to want to live. You only think suicide is a great idea when you are not actually faced with it.

I’m one of the PPs from pages earlier. I appreciate what someone said about some people just wanting to be left alone to die. The problem is that it rarely happens that way. You are much more likely to have a slow decline and chronic illness and to need help (unless we are talking about assisted suicide, but even then, I question whether, when actually confronted with it, your average old person with things that can make living alone hard, would actually want AS). It is both irresponsible and unfair to your loved ones to make no plans on the theory that you will die alone in your home.

Additionally, DNRs are great provided the first responders or ER have them. Often in a crisis the person won’t think of it or for whatever reason it won’t follow meaning you will have tough decisions regardless.

Anonymous wrote:This is 21:43. AARP has a good summary on LTC. https://www.aarp.org/health/health-insurance/info-06-2012/understanding-long-term-care-insurance.html

Basically, it is expensive, you can expect steep rate increases, and there are limitations on coverage, either the amount they will pay or a time limit or both. Also in the case of Alzheimer’s, like my dad, triggering the coverage can be tricky.

This is important, and a lot of people seem to be missing it in this thread - starting "early" on your LTC doesn't save you from extreme costs. In MD, the insurance companies just have to go to the insurance commission and get approval for the increase they want if it's above the standard amount - 10%, 15%, whatever - and if the commission approves it, they can charge it to everyone. It's not like term life insurance that you're "locking in" a certain rate for 20 years, etc.

My parents are currently considering an annuity with a LTC rider. What they would do is put in a certain amount of money - probably $200k or so for each - and the rider would provide some LTC coverage. We are doing a lot of research because obviously it's complex, and it's not as great as traditional LTC insurance, but it would help to cover some of the monthly expenses should they need it at some point. With this product, they would get $600,000 in coverage but you are not able to use that however you want - you are only allowed to take $100k/year over 6 years. And they can't really use that unless they've held the annuity for 5 years, which is okay for now because they are still in good health etc. And $100k wouldn't be enough to full cover the cost of care around here, but it's a huge help. There are some decent sized fees on these annuities - of course - but the benefit is that if they don't end up using the coverage, their $200k plus whatever earnings (or loss) they have had is still there, and the money isn't just gone forever. Anyone familiar with these types of products? There are also surrender fees just like with other annuities, but if they wait 7 years, they could take the money out whenever they want without any penalty. And they are not actually annuitizing the money so when they pass away, the money isn't gone to the insurance company. Any other risks I should be checking for? Still trying to decide if it's worth paying the fees for the peace of mind, or just taking the money to directly invest in the market - but the older my parents get, like many others, they appreciate "guarantees" etc vs the risks of traditional investing.

We kept a family member at the Jefferson through a few years of altzheimers. We paid private caretakers for 24 hour a day care. The care was great and she was at home All the time but very expensive. We still had to pay 2/3 of the activity fee even When She used none of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jefferson have some for 109k and about $4k a month/

http://www.dcmodernhomes.com/the-jefferson-condos-for-sale.php?p=2

You are better off going to a regular assisted living with monthly fees vs. buy in.

The point was that they are harder to find. This place is actually lovely and has a ton of activities. It's expensive though...but cheaper than the ones OP mentioned.

This is NOT assisted living. Theses are "retirement homes" for people who can live independently.

Correct. Not assisted living. More like a retirement community. I don’t really get the appeal, except that I think it is continuing care so when you need to move up to assisted or skilled nursing you have priority if you are already in the assisted living. Based on my understanding of their feees, it would be hard to find assisted living at the Jefferson for under $8000 per month.

Not even "more like" their website says a 55+ retirement community, like a place with a shuttle to Harris Teeter and bridge group at night. This is NOTHING like assisted living. Assisted living today costs on the low end bare bones, no extras in BFE 6,000/mo -10,000/mo.

You people think your mortgage is high? You have not seen anything! Just wait until you have to warehouse yourself to die.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jefferson have some for 109k and about $4k a month/

http://www.dcmodernhomes.com/the-jefferson-condos-for-sale.php?p=2

You are better off going to a regular assisted living with monthly fees vs. buy in.

The point was that they are harder to find. This place is actually lovely and has a ton of activities. It's expensive though...but cheaper than the ones OP mentioned.

This is NOT assisted living. Theses are "retirement homes" for people who can live independently.

Correct. Not assisted living. More like a retirement community. I don’t really get the appeal, except that I think it is continuing care so when you need to move up to assisted or skilled nursing you have priority if you are already in the assisted living. Based on my understanding of their feees, it would be hard to find assisted living at the Jefferson for under $8000 per month.

They have some sliding fee assisted living programs. Medicaid covers low income for nursing home. What was posted is for healthy seniors who need a bit of help.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jefferson have some for 109k and about $4k a month/

http://www.dcmodernhomes.com/the-jefferson-condos-for-sale.php?p=2

You are better off going to a regular assisted living with monthly fees vs. buy in.

The point was that they are harder to find. This place is actually lovely and has a ton of activities. It's expensive though...but cheaper than the ones OP mentioned.

This is NOT assisted living. Theses are "retirement homes" for people who can live independently.

Correct. Not assisted living. More like a retirement community. I don’t really get the appeal, except that I think it is continuing care so when you need to move up to assisted or skilled nursing you have priority if you are already in the assisted living. Based on my understanding of their feees, it would be hard to find assisted living at the Jefferson for under $8000 per month.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The jefferson have some for 109k and about $4k a month/

http://www.dcmodernhomes.com/the-jefferson-condos-for-sale.php?p=2

You are better off going to a regular assisted living with monthly fees vs. buy in.

The point was that they are harder to find. This place is actually lovely and has a ton of activities. It's expensive though...but cheaper than the ones OP mentioned.

This is NOT assisted living. Theses are "retirement homes" for people who can live independently.

Those are the independent living condos. Not the assisted living. The Jefferson assisted living runs in excess of 7000 per month. The precise amount depends on the “level of care” they assign to you. The level of care is how much help you need with ADLs, how many medications, etc.