Latest From Our Blog

Richard "Dick" Weinman is an Oregonian who had an active lifestyle--OSU professor, writer, biker, and marathoner. But a horrendous collision with a cement truck in 2005 left him broken, burned, and clinically dead. Medical responders resuscitated Dick and he began a long journey of recovery. One year after his accident, Dick entered an Assisted Living Facility (ALF), where he's been ever since. While that's what his body needed, he found that his independent mind and spirit didn't really fit in. He was known as "Room 108."

Question and background: How should I discuss end-of-life care planning with my parents? As my parents start to age, I've been wondering about how to bring up the topic of end-of-life care and advance planning. It's a touchy subject and I'm not exactly sure how to start the conversation without giving off the wrong impression.

Question and background: What are the pros and cons of purchasing a long term care policy. I've been researching them on-and-off again for a few years and I can't make heads or tails of what they cover and if it even makes sense to buy a policy.

Question: If you wanted to "self-insure" for long term care, how much would you need to save?

Generally, elderly parents want to remain living in their own home. However, remaining in the home becomes a concern when children see their parents slowing down, perhaps even having trouble with handling stairs and doing general daily activities. Yet, with parents' mental and physical health currently not creating problems, there seems to be no imminent need to search out support services or other accommodations for aging parents. This is the time to evaluate the home to make it safe and secure for your loved ones—now and in the near future—in anticipation of aging disabilities that may occur.