International Long Term Care Insurance

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As the golden years approach, more Americans are choosing to retire abroad, chasing the dream of a simpler, sunnier, and more affordable life. Consider this: the number of U.S. retirees collecting Social Security outside the country has surged by more than 50% in the past two decades, with hotspots like Mexico, Costa Rica, and Portugal topping the list of destinations. The appeal is undeniable—a lower cost of living, vibrant cultural experiences, and access to quality healthcare at a fraction of U.S. prices.

Yet, behind the promise of golden sunsets and tranquil beaches lies a critical question: What happens when the inevitable challenges of aging, like declining health or the need for long-term care, arise far from home?

Planning for long-term care (LTC) is an essential but often overlooked part of retirement preparation, especially for those retiring abroad. LTC insurance can provide a vital safety net, but navigating its complexities becomes even more challenging when crossing international borders.
This article unpacks the intricacies of LTC insurance for expats. From understanding policy limitations to exploring options that allow for international coverage, we’ll guide you through the critical decisions necessary to safeguard your health and peace of mind while living your dream retirement abroad.

(Note: About Us, a reference bibliography, related books, videos and apps can be found at the end of this article.)

Into the Sunset

Healthcare Power of Attorney (POA)

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Healthcare Power of Attorney

Our last article covered more of the technical aspects of various types of Power of Attorney and how to go about getting one in place. This article deals more with the considerations that go into getting your healthcare wishes articulated in a way that ensures they will be honored via a Living Will, a Durable Healthcare Power of Attorney, or both.

Financial Power of Attorney (POA)

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Financial Power of Attorney POA

As our parents (and we) get older, there is a greater risk for a sudden change in physical or cognitive health such that someone else needs to step in and either assist with or entirely take over their health and/or financial decisions. The instrument for assigning someone these powers is a Power of Attorney.

A financial POA can be challenging to get into place because there are high levels of fear, uncertainty, and trust involved. Who, in their’ right mind’ would want to assign the rights over to someone else, even your most trusted child? The problem is that in your ‘wrong mind,’ it is too late to make this assignment.

Is Alzheimer’s an Inevitability?

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Is Alzheimer's an Inevitability

Alzheimer’s disease is a relentlessly progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by memory loss and impaired cognition, a decline in one’s ability to perform activities of daily living, and changes in personality and behavior. The increasing severity of symptoms over time ultimately leaves the patient entirely dependent on others for care.

Early Alzheimers Detection?

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Early Alzheimer's Detection?

What sort of diagnostics have been, and are, used to diagnose dementia in general and specifically Alzheimer’s? How effective and useful are they in enabling early treatment of the disease?

The bottom line is that we most commonly arrive upon an Alzheimer’s diagnosis when the individual is showing very clear signs, and as a result, we have been missing the opportunity to treat and slow the progress for the last 10, 15, even 20 years before the more extreme symptoms manifest.

Manage Getting Older

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Loving Older Couple

As we grow older, we experience many changes, both physically and emotionally. Coping with these changes can add stress to your life (not healthy). The vitality we once had as young men and women is now gone, and this serves as a signpost that we are getting closer to the end of our life. On the positive side, if we take good care of ourselves, we can greatly increase our chances for many more years where the quality of life is high.

Falling Down

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Senior Falls

One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.

Family Caregiver Challenges

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Family Caregiver Challenges

There are more than 43.5 million adults in the United States who have provided unpaid care to an adult or child within the last year. 34.2 million of these Americans provide care to an adult age 50 or older. On average, a family caregiver will spend over 24 hours each week providing care to a loved one, although many report spending well over 40 hours per week on caregiving duties.

The burden on caregivers is reportedly highest among those providing care to a spouse or partner. Family caregiving usually involves tasks above and beyond assisting with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and eating, but also medical or nursing tasks that are typically performed by a nurse, and the emotional support function as well.

Emotional Roller Coaster

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Emotional Roller Coaster

Those suffering from some form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s, will go through a series of extremely challenging phases, and those phases bring on various emotions in the extreme. In fact, these phases will send them back and forth through the various five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance), and to some degree, more than once. This situation is further complicated and compounded by the fact that their ability to intellectually and rationally think through their grief and their ability to have reasonable control over their emotions are both becoming diminished as the disease progresses.