Long-term care still has an awareness problem. Taking Care, a documentary from Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen, is another example of how personal stories can bring the realities of dementia and caregiving to a much larger audience. The film is available on Prime Video and Apple TV.
What to know
- Celebrity reach: Seth Rogen is an actor, writer and producer whose comedy career gives this issue an unusually large audience.
- Personal connection: Lauren’s mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at just 55 and eventually required around-the-clock care.
- Caregiver support: The Rogens founded Hilarity for Charity in 2012, which has now provided 530,000 hours of respite care.
- More storytelling: HFC also offers scholarships encouraging students affected by dementia to tell the stories of people living with the disease.
Planning implications
In my view, we need more stories like this. I regularly see families understand the financial implications of long-term care only after watching a parent or grandparent need years of help.
Alzheimer’s can create a very long care event. Lauren’s mother lived roughly 17 years after diagnosis. An extended period of paid care can consume a substantial portion of retirement savings.
For clients with a family history, I think longer benefit periods deserve particular consideration. This earlier post looks at one approach that combines self-funding with insurance for an extended care event.
When to raise this with clients
- When a parent or close relative has had Alzheimer’s or another dementia
- When clients have personally participated in a lengthy caregiving experience
- When clients underestimate how long cognitive care can last
Bottom line
More people telling the real stories of long-term care creates better awareness, and better awareness creates an earlier opportunity to plan.
Client resources: I publish short videos and articles explaining long-term care concepts for your clients.
Work together: I'm a long-term care specialist. In addition to articles like these, I help financial professionals evaluate coverage options for clients. Reply or schedule time to refer a client or discuss a case.
Best,
Jesse Vickey
Long Term What?
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