Solutions to Denial

If you have difficulty thinking about the need for long term care (LTC), we can help you. Many times people are under the impression that long term care only takes place in a nursing home. A majority of the people receiving care are able to stay in their own homes. We help you understand more about how long term care works and how insurance can address your concerns.

We can help you talk through the issues of health changes as you age, where money will come from to pay for LTC and how to avoid being a burden on your family. We can help you relate LTC insurance to your concerns.

Long term care insurance may not be appropriate for you. It is only until you've looked at your retirement goals and concerns and learned about LTC insurance before you can make an informed decision.

At AM Warner Insurance, we do not sell based upon fear. What we find is that many of our clients are truly concerned with how they are going to deal with LTC when they are older. What we have found is that after discussing the issues with us, whether they purchase a policy or not, they are more relaxed and have a greater peace of mind.

No one wants to think about getting old and losing their independence. It's hard to imagine yourself in that situation when you are young and active. What we have found is that if you take time to plan in other aspects of your life, it makes sense to plan for this as well.

John Hancock Survey - Fear Leading to Denial

The survey made it clear that fear of LTC (Long term care) is one of the main obstacles to purchasing LTC insurance. Fear leads to denial, as 2/3 of the respondents agreed that it is difficult to admit that they might ever need LTC in the future. This denial prevents people from doing a realistic assessment of their LTC needs and addressing the issue.

About 64% of the respondents expect to reach the age of 85, but only 51% are worried about needing LTC.

Many are willing to rely on alternate sources of funding as a way to avoid being proactive, even though those alternatives may not meet their future requirements.

Of those willing to pay out of pocket, 46% cannot afford more than one year in a nursing home.

Most believe that going to a nursing home is worse than dying or becoming bankrupt.

We'll talk about the solutions to this next time. Remember, we at AM Warner Insurance are here to help you get educated and make informed decisions.

Source: John Hancock 2006 Long Term Care Survey

John Hancock Survey - Primary Obstacles

According to the survey (John Hancock 2006 Long Term Care Survey), an overwhelming majority (83%) of Americans believe it is irresponsible not to plan ahead for LTC (long term care) needs, and 42% identified LTC insurance as the best solution for LTC funding. About 70% haven't done anything about it yet.

LTC Insurance continues to gain acceptance as an important component of comprehensive financial planning, the fact that most survey respondents do not regard it as a priority continues to be an industry challenge.

The survey confirmed what we (John Hancock) have long recognized to be the primary obstacles to purchase. They are:

• Fear Leading to Denial
• Lack of knowledge
• Competing Priorities
• Cost Overshadows Value

We will look at each of these over the next few blogs. At AM Warner Insurance, we can help you with your individual needs.

Celebrity Birthdays

Age 50
Ann Curry - Newscaster - Nov 19
Larry Bird - Former Celtic - Dec 7
David Sedaris - Humorist - Dec 25

Age 60
Laura Bush - First Lady - Nov 4
Steven Speilberg - Director - Dec 18
Jimmy Buffet - Singer/Songwriter - Dec 25

Age 70
Mary Tyler Moore - Actress - Dec 29

Age 80
Joe Paterno - Coach - Dec 21

John Hancock 2006 Long Term Care Survey

The John Hancock 2006 Long Term Care Survey findings reveal that consumer attitudes toward Long Term Care (LTC) remain largely unchanged over the past 10 years. It is a subject that is still viewed with mixed feelings. On one hand, a large majority of respondents (85%) acknowledged that LTC could significantly reduce their retirement income and assets, but on the other hand, 70% say they have done little or no planning, with the same percentage saying it is not a priority for them.

The survey was full of these types of contradictions. While fewer than half believe they will be able to rely on government programs in the future, many identified asset transfer as their strategy for qualifying for Medicaid as a possible source of funding. Others considered using their savings or home equity to pay for care, despite the fact that nearly half of all respondents acknowledged that they could only afford to pay for one year in a nursing home.

John Hancock attributes these results to people's feelings of denial when it comes to the realities of LTC and also to their lack of understanding about how LTC insurance can offer an affordable solution to the problem.

We will concentrate on this study over the next few weeks. We will analyze the issues and solutions for you. Email us with your questions as we'd love to help you.

Source: John Hancock 2006 Long Term Care Survey

Easy Pain Management

It’s hard to avoid stress, and most of us are a little tense by day’s end. But if you struggle with chronic pain, these everyday stressors can build muscle tension and aggravate aches and pains. They also add emotional strain. One way to keep stress-related pain under control is with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Here’s what to do:

Find a quiet place, like your bedroom, where you won’t be interrupted for about five minutes.

Tense all the muscles in your face—mouth, eyes, ears—and hold them tight for about five seconds as you inhale.

Exhale and release the tension. Relax for about 30 seconds, letting all the tension melt out of your muscles.

Move on to your neck and shoulders, inhaling and tensing, then exhaling and releasing.

Work your way down your body, repeating the process for your chest, abdominals, arms, buttocks, legs, and feet.

In addition to slowing your racing thoughts, progressive muscle relaxation slows your heart rate and breathing and increases blood flow to your muscles, which can soothe body pain.


Practice makes perfect, so don’t get discouraged if PMR doesn’t work the first time. If you’re still not getting it after a few tries, listen to a recorded guide on audiotape or CD, available at most bookstores.