Most of us have had a family member or friend, who as the result of an unforeseen illness or accident needed long term care. For many, that memory is of our parents caring tirelessly for our grandparents, or one of our parents caring lovingly for the other. In these situations, those with a quality long term care plan in place faced the situation with less stress, less anxiety, and less loss of savings.Long term care is an integral part of retirement planning. Having a plan for care is really about protecting your independence and lifestyle, and the peace-of-mind knowing youve taken steps to shield your family from the emotional, physical, and financial challenges needing care can present. The alternative is to self-insure. If you choose to do so, keep in mind that raising the monies required for care may not be as simple as you envision. What bank account would you reach into first? What are the tax ramifications of selling your investments? And what happens if the market is in a downward cycle when you need these funds?The greatest misconception is that long term care insurance is best dealt with later rather sooner. The truth, however, is that the best time to investigate insurance is before you need it. Obtaining coverage can become difficult and costly - perhaps impossible - once an accident or illness has changed your good fortune. None of us know when we might experience a change of health, and studies show that roughly 70% of those over 65 will need care.There are many more insurance options to choose from today versus just a few years ago. Policies now offer the opportunity to have monies deposited directly to your checking account, to be spent as you please, possibly to have a family member or friend care for you. There are also life insurance policies that allow you to spend down the death benefit if a need for care arises, and whatever is unspent can become a legacy for those you care about most.To navigate the multitude of options, talk to someone who specializes in long term care insurance - someone who understands the difference between company offerings, and who represents a variety of insurers. Most important, be sure the agent you select truly has your best interest at the heart of any decision.Editors Note: This article was submitted by Mitchell Dannenberg, CLTC of LTCI Marketplace. For a complimentary review of your current insurance policies, and an assessment of how long term care coverage may help protect your retirement dream, you are invited to call Mitchell at (239) 461-5511, or visit their website at http://ltcimarketplace.com.

As we move into a new world with outdoor exercise, masks, and less of our go-to exercises, research is giving us new validation on the importance of exercise. Research does not always distinguish a dementia type in a study which allows us to generalize to our lives with dementia. In the case of how exercise impacts dementia, there really are no downsides whether one participates in aerobic and/or strength training. Exercises impact on dementia is a continually growing field of research with a recent study looking specifically at Parkinson's disease and long-term voluntary exercise.1This eight-week study used mice as the subjects. The control group had no running wheel in their cage, the study group had a running wheel. Findings showed the mice who voluntarily exercised daily had reduced significant motor deficits. The results showed voluntary exercise not only reduced motor decline but provided a level of neuroprotection - immediate and longer-term benefits. We could simply sit in our recliner and wait for this study to be validated in humans or take it as a no-lose reason to exercise. A second mouse study revealed similar outcomes for mice with Alzheimer's (AD).2In this study, wild-type mice with AD were housed with intermittent or unlimited access to the running wheel. Regardless of intermittent or continuous access, the exercise resulted in improved brain function (neurogenesis) for both sets of mice. As older adults, a high-risk group for the novel COVID-19 virus, our exercise routine may well have been changed or missing. The second study clarifies, in the case of mice, even intermittent exercise had a positive effect on the brain. Perhaps you and your care partner visited the mall to walk, which might still be doable with appropriate precautions; or perhaps you switch to walking in your neighborhood or even at home with a digital program for walk or movement. Now that summer has returned, swimming or water exercise looks like a safe option. According to the CDC there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through the water used in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds. Proper operation and disinfection of pools, hot tubs and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes COVID-19.3 Whatever exercise you choose to do, the CDC cautions people to limit close contact with people outside their homes in public spaces, both in and out of the water. Take a page from the mouse research, add some exercise back into your routine, it will improve your brain and your spirits.Footnotes1. Wan-Ling, T., Hsin-Yung, C., Ying-Zu, H., Yuan-Hao, C., Chi-Wei, K., et al., 2019. Long-term voluntary physical exercise exerts neuroprotective effects and motor disturbance alleviation in a rat model of Parkinson's Disease, Behavioral Neurology, do i: 10.1155/2019/4829572. eCollection 2019.2. Ginsberding, A-L., Zampar, S., Stazi, M., Liebetanz, D., & Wirths. O. 2019.Physical activity ameliorates impaired hippocampal neurogenesis in the Tg4-42 mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease, 11:1759091419892692, doi: 10.1177/1759091419892692.3. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/index.shtmlSubmitted and Written By: HRC Manorcare - click for more information

For more information on Discovery Village, CLICK HERE.A recent Time Magazine article stated that New recommendations for U.S. dietary guidelines included the surprise suggestion that cholesterol should not be a nutrient of special concern but added that sugar and saturated fat are still worth worrying about. Doctors also say that if we cut out processed food and focus on eating whole foods, the instance of disease and chronic health conditions will decrease.With all of the discussion about a healthy lifestyle, the focus tends to be on younger generations to keep them from becoming obese as they age. But, truthfully, it is essential for the elderly to maintain a healthy diet.It is common for this segment of the population to experience a loss of appetite as they age. Not only do they experience a slowing of their metabolism and reduction in physical activity, but they may also take medication that affects their appetite or forget to eat because of dementia and forgetfulness. For some, they may eat very little or even nothing at all for a couple of days if given the opportunity especially when living alone.That is where living in a senior living community can prove to be an enormous help. Most communities offer dining services with excellent, healthy meal options to ensure that those living there get the nourishment they need. Following are some of the ways senior living communities focus on nutrition:Three Balanced Meals. Senior living communities include meals prepared by expert chefs who create delicious, fresh, and healthy options that all the residents enjoy. Many communities create an atmosphere in the dining room where residents can relish the camaraderie of others while each part of the meal is brought to them in a style similar to five-star dining.Proper Nutrition. As people get older they become deficient in vitamins and minerals that are essential to proper health, specifically Vitamin D and Vitamin B12. Not only do they provide three balanced meals, but also dining services at most senior living communities focus on ensuring that residents get the recommended allowances of vitamins and supplements. More often than not, nutritionists review menu plans to give them a stamp of approval from their perspective.Dining is an Experience. Depending on the community, dining is typically done similarly to a high-end restaurant where everyone is seated at tables and residents pick from a prepared menu of several options for a particular meal. Additionally, residents have the choice of sitting where and with whom they would like. Mealtimes are social times for most of the residents, providing a great opportunity for them to get to know their neighbors better.Chefs Participation with Residents. Just like in a restaurant, the chef at most senior living communities comes out before serving to go over the menu and describe each item to entice residents to look forward to their meal. As they eat, the chef also likes to go to each table and talk with residents. Because senior living communities are close-knit, the chef makes every effort to get to know the residents on a personal level. This adds special warmth to the residents, making them feel as special as they are.Chef Accommodates Dietary Restrictions. Overall, most any chefs will prepare meals as healthy as possible by using different seasonings and spices in place of salt and preparing meals that are not laden with fat. But for those who have specific dietary restrictions, the chef is usually able to accommodate each meal to meet those needs.Special Meals and Events. Senior living communities love to host dances, parties, and other events especially special meals around the holidays. Even during these times, great care and preparation go into making sure that the food is healthy and nutritious not to mention tasty.Food and diet are essential to maintain optimum health. Independent living communities understand this and work hard to ensure residents get balanced nutrition. Discovery Village at Naples offers senior living programs that include Sensational Dining .This program makes everyone feel like they are eating at a 5-star restaurant every day. To learn more about our community and programs, contact Discovery Village Naples.

If youre nearing retirement age, youre probably thinking about what life will look like once youve stopped working full time. There are many benefits to retiringlike more time to spend on your hobbies and with people you lovebut theres also the uncertainty of living on a fixed income. One great way to save money during retirement is by moving to a smaller home. Here are some of the benefits of downsizing. REDUCE YOUR MORTGAGE BURDEN If youre still making mortgage payments after retirement, downsizing may be a good idea to lower your monthly payments, or maybe even eliminate your mortgage completely. Reducing your mortgage burden means youll have more funds to dedicate to other expenses. When thinking about downsizing, be sure to consider how much equity you have in the home, what the housing market looks like at the time and how long you might stay in your new home. If youve already paid off your mortgage, it may make sense to stay where you are, or you may decide to make a profit off of the sale of your home. CUT DOWN ON BILLS  Smaller homes also come with reduced utility costs. Youre paying for every inch of unused space in your home through heating and cooling, electricity, gas, water, and even internet access. The smaller your square footage, the less space you have to heat and power in order to live comfortably. With a smaller living space, you can also cut down on costs like lawn care and cleaning services. Larger homes require more maintenance and general upkeep, so by downsizing you can cut those costs, or even eliminate them altogether. REDUCE SPENDING ON FRIVOLOUS ITEMS Besides the required expenses to keep your home in a livable condition, you may be spending money on expenses like furniture, art or other home decor items. In a larger home, youll have room to fill with unnecessary items, but downsizing will force you to live a simpler life. Youll have less room to decorate and fill with furniture, so youll likely spend less on excess decor. LIVE IN A LESS EXPENSIVE LOCATION  Your job may have been in or near a major metropolitan area but once you retire, you wont be tied to that location for work. Looking for a less expensive location with a less expensive cost of living when you downsize is a great way to maximize the money you spend on a new home. Even if youd like to stay close to family and friends, youll have the flexibility to look for homes that may be a bit farther away now that you dont have to worry about a commute. If youre open to living in a different location entirely, you may want to do some research on locations with low costs of living. Having a smaller home in an area with a low cost of living will leave you with more funds to do the things you love and take advantage of all the free time you have during retirement. IMPROVE HOME ACCESSIBILITY Another important advantage to downsizing is being able to buy a home thats accessible as you get older. You may not have mobility issues now, but you may develop them in the future. Instead of worrying about how to finance a home renovation to fit your accessibility needs down the line, downsizing allows you to buy a home thats already fit for whatever may come in the future. Look for homes with minimal stairs, wide doorways, and open floor plans.  Thinking about moving can be daunting, especially if youve spent many years in your current home. If youre wondering whether downsizing is right for you, talk with a financial professional to make a plan to fit your needs in retirement.