My friends parents passed in 1994 and in 1995, I decided to work in the Long Term Care Insurance marketplace so I could "get the word out" and help responsible families prepare for their possible future health changes. I encourage you to learn from my friend's mistake and look into LTC insurance long before you need it—for your loved ones(spouse and even children) as well as yourself. Like fire insurance, hopefully, you’ll never have to use it.

Also, call your local Area Agency on Aging, or Department of Aging, and ask if there are any financial programs, waivers or grants available in your area that you can apply for.

STARTLING STATISTICS

· An estimated 4.5 to 5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease. In a Gallup poll, 1 in 10 Americans said that they had a family member with Alzheimer’s, and 1 in 3 knew someone with the disease.

· Increasing age is the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer’s. One in 10 individuals over 65 and nearly half over 85 are affected. Rare, inherited forms of Alzheimer’s can even strike individuals in their 30’s and 40’s.

· A person with Alzheimer’s disease will live an average of eight years and as many as 20 years or more from the first onset of symptoms.

· More than 7 out of 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease live at home, where family and friends provide 80 percent of their care. The estimated value of this informal care is $257 billion annually.

· One half of the U.S. population has a chronic condition. More than one quarter (26.6%) of the adult population provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend, which translates to more than 50 million people.

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