Senior Care Planning Summarized in 5 Simple Steps with Annalee Kruger
Check out Jeremy’s latest podcast on legacy planning by listening on “Apple Podcasts” or “Google Podcasts” or read below for Senior Care Planning Summarized in 5 Simple Steps.
#49 – Welcome to our new mini-series on legacy planning! We’ll uncover strategies to help you take better care of your loved ones and your money as you move towards the end of your retirement.
In episode one of the series, Jeremy Keil speaks with Annalee Kruger, founder and president of Care Right Inc., a nationwide senior care planning organization.
Jeremy and Annalee discuss what a comprehensive aging plan looks like, how you can customize it to meet your unique family needs, and the key things to keep in mind before getting started.
With over 25 years of experience in long-term care planning, Annalee is well aware of the serious consequences that families face for not having an aging plan in place well ahead of time. If you choose to wait until you’re in a crisis, your care options will be limited!
Today, Annalee is here to help you avoid that mistake and save time, money, and stress –– either as a caregiver or an aging retiree.
Annalee discusses:
- How to deal with sudden medical crises affecting your aging loved ones
- What caregiver fatigue is all about – and ways to overcome it
- Important things to consider while searching for suitable long-term care facilities
- Tips to build a “grab and go” binder and to be more organized in your legacy planning
- The different levels of care you may need throughout the aging process
- And more
Senior Care Planning Summarized in 5 Simple Steps
Almost every retiree wishes to age in place, at their own home. But sometimes, life happens and unexpected medical emergencies call for long-term care facilities.
While these times are often stressful for the whole family, you can make this process a lot easier and save yourself valuable time and money through timely senior care planning.
Our recent demographic shift has led to a large aging population, with the total number of people above age 65 increasing rapidly (popularly known as the “silver tsunami.”) This is why senior care planning is a highly relevant topic today that you need to address in your overall retirement plan.
In this blog, we’ll help you navigate through the complexities of building an aging plan, whether it’s for yourself or for an aging loved one.
Read on to learn 5 simple steps that will simplify your senior care planning!
- Start Well Ahead of Time
In one of the recent episodes of Retirement Revealed, we were joined by Annalee Kruger, founder and president of Care Right Inc., a nationwide senior care planning organization.
Annalee said that 92% of the clients who approached her were already in the midst of a family crisis.
Such a situation leads to a lot of stress and anxiety – especially when you don’t know how to care for your loved ones with declining health conditions.
There’s only one way to overcome this problem: starting well ahead of time.
For instance, if you already have a long-term care facility finalized, have the right long-term care insurance in place, and are well-equipped with all the necessary information you’ll need, then the transition will be much less stressful.
Plus, the earlier you start, the more options you can explore before picking out the best one!
- Gather and Organize the Necessary Information
During a time of medical crisis, you have to make several key decisions over a short period of time. These are often life-changing decisions where you don’t have the luxury of waiting.
So, it’s critical to gather all the necessary information and organize it in a way that is easily accessible when needed.
This includes documents like living wills, powers of attorney, and even insurance documents.
Not sure how to do this effectively?
Check out the Signature Grab and Go Binder by Care Right Inc. to get started.
- Have an Aging Plan in Place
58% of adult children find themselves thrust into the role of caregiver without ever having a family meeting about the “what ifs.”
Oftentimes, it’s because of family denial i.e., the children have no idea how their parents are doing, the health issues they are going through, and their senior care needs.
In a time where family members are usually living in different states and rarely meeting throughout the year, how do you ensure that your loved ones are doing well?
In addition to frequent check-in calls, you can install technologies like fall sensors and video cameras so that you have access to real-time updates on the health of your loved ones.
We encourage you to hold regular family meetings and discuss:
- What are your goals when it comes to senior care planning?
- Are your finances set up in a way that will help you achieve those goals? (If not, contact a financial advisor right away!)
- Who will provide the care and how will it be paid for?
- Where will you live as you age? (E.g., Home, facility, or with the kids.)
- Who will be overseeing the implementation of the aging plan?
Remember, if you don’t have an aging plan and are entering the crisis unprepared, it can put a huge strain on relationships and cause serious rifts within your family.
- Find the Right Long-Term Care Facility
Touring senior care facilities is an important part of the senior care planning process.
There are so many factors you need to consider such as the quality of services available, various costs involved, and its proximity to the homes of the family members.
A lot of people use private placement agencies to find a long-term care facility. While these agencies have their own advantages, one thing you should keep in mind is that these agencies might only offer facilities that they receive a commission from.
In other words, your options will be limited to a few facilities.
Instead, consider working with a senior care planner like Care Right Inc. They receive zero commission from referrals and serve as true fiduciaries of their clients.
Because of this, they are more likely to provide every option that meets the needs of your unique situation.
Another potential challenge you need to keep in mind is running out of money after a few years of long-term care. If you have chosen a facility that requires private pay, then expenses can add up quickly and put you into financial distress if you’re not careful!
- Address the Caregiver Fatigue
This is a crucial, but often overlooked, aspect of senior care planning.
While caring for their aging loved ones, the caregivers can end up taking a toll on their own mental, physical, and financial health. In some situations, it also results in missed career opportunities.
Many caregivers are hit with multiple responsibilities at the same time –– taking care of their own children while looking after their aging loved ones.
They might be touring colleges for the kids on one weekend and long-term care facilities for the parents during the other.
Result? Caregiver fatigue.
If you want to speak with an experienced senior care planner, feel free to reach out to Annalee Kruger or book a Free 30-min Consultation Call with Care Right Inc.
For any questions regarding your retirement, investment, or tax planning contact us!
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Check out the resources below, which can help you simplify the process of creating an aging plan. Feel free to reach out to us or our guest Annalee Kruger with any questions using the contact information provided below.
Resources:
- Care Right Inc: Grab and Go Binder
- Plan4Life, LLC
- 3 Things You Should Know Before Choosing A Financial Advisor
- 6 Questions Retirees Aren’t Asking But Should Be
- Subscribe
Connect With Annalee Kruger:
- Book Free 30-Minute Consultation
- Care Right Inc.
- LinkedIn: Annalee Kruger
- LinkedIn: Care Right Inc.
- Facebook: Care Right Inc.
- YouTube: Care Right Inc.
- Pinterest: Care Right Inc.
Connect With Jeremy Keil:
- Jeremy@keilfp.com
- (262) 333-8353
- Keil Financial Partners
- LinkedIn: Jeremy Keil
- Facebook: Jeremy Keil
- LinkedIn: Keil Financial Partners
About Our Guest:
Annalee Kruger founded Care Right Inc. in 2011, providing concierge services to help families develop a proactive plan vs. crisis management when aging loved ones start to decline. Annalee helps families across the globe develop a comprehensive aging plan. With her long-term care career spanning more than twenty-five years, Annalee has also worked as a Social Worker and Executive Director in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s). Annalee is also the co-founder of Plan4LifeNow, which educates financial advisors and practitioners on the unique needs of their aging clientele.
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