The Aging Community: What Are Your Plans?

[C0LLETTE]

It is difficult to talk about "ageing" generally because circumstances vary so broadly but, in the extreme, for those with little or no family, no partner or none living, and few, if any, surviving close friends, the advancing isolation can be crushing; easily as debilitating as physical frailty.

[Paradox]

Great tread.

With my own aging parents, they are still in the their home and the children are around to aid and help with all kinds of needs i.e medical appointments, home maintenance, groceries etc.

When I reflect upon my future with my friends the situation is not as bright. I have been gradually strategizing ways to secure as much as independent future I can. Looking at independent or small group health plans (as I am self-employed), low-rise/townhouse-condos etc.

[Rockinonahigh]

I took care of my grannie and mom till both passed,it was something I didn't have a second thought about,now my son will take over my care when I get to the point it's needed.We talked about what if I need nurses care,well he said they can just come hear to see about you,no other option.I made sure he understood that elder care could be hard on body and soul and he said the same thing.As I get older I see how my grannie felt in lot's of ways,mom wen't out fighting till the end as I hope I can do...it just isn't easy no matter how it works out.

[DapperButch]

After my father's death I did extensive research into long term care insurance for my mother. She purchased a policy where either in-home care or assisted living will be covered for 6 years at a specific rate. On average, people die within 2-3 years of entering a facility, so she should be good. Being that she was able to purchase the policy with one lump sum, whatever she doesnt use gets passed to her heirs.

My goal is to purchase a long term care policy, as well.

I have no children. My partner TF, has a son, however, I think it is safest that we cover TF with a long term care policy, as well. If it works out that her son takes care of her (assuming I'm not), then he will reap the benefits of the unused long term care policy.

If TF is not in my life, I am pretty confident that my sister will make sure I am taken care of, even if for some reason she had to help financially. I am making the assumption that based on my medical history, plus my past/current lifestyle versus hers, I will become sick before she does.

Damn, this is a morbid thread!

[C0LLETTE]

For those interested in reading more about the issues facing Seniors in housing in the LGBTQ Community, have a look at the following link on Huffington post. It offers a fair number of articles, references to needs, studies, efforts being made:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/lgbt-seniors/

In some sense, the titles of the articles say it all. They refer to discrimination
( racial, homophobic), dire need, finances, and anything else you can think of that paints a gloomy picture outside of a few bright spots in a few larger urban centres.

But at least people are starting to seriously look at this issue.

[Andrea]

Rene and I are planning to move out of the US upon my retirement, which may be as soon as two plus years. It is less expensive to live in the countries we are considering. Also, health care can be less and in many cases better.

We have an agreement with my daughter to help her now, while she is going to school, and she will care for us in our later years. I suspect she would be willing even if we weren't supporting her and the kids now, but I enjoy holding that over her head.

In addition, she has blessed me with thirteen grandchildren (a bunch are adopted from two sibling groups) and the older ones have made an informed agreement to be there for us as well.

I worry more about having to live in Missouri, because that is where they are, than I worry about who will care for us when we need it.

I have been researching prepaid funeral policies and long-term care policies. We better not need either of these soon because I am practicing my procrastination skills about both.

[C0LLETTE]

Originally Posted by Andrea

Rene and I are planning to move out of the US upon my retirement, which may be as soon as two plus years. It is less expensive to live in the countries we are considering. Also, health care can be less and in many cases better.

We have an agreement with my daughter to help her now, while she is going to school, and she will care for us in our later years. I suspect she would be willing even if we weren't supporting her and the kids now, but I enjoy holding that over her head.

In addition, she has blessed me with thirteen grandchildren (a bunch are adopted from two sibling groups) and the older ones have made an informed agreement to be there for us as well.

I worry more about having to live in Missouri, because that is where they are, than I worry about who will care for us when we need it.

I have been researching prepaid funeral policies and long-term care policies. We better not need either of these soon because I am practicing my procrastination skills about both.

I am curious which countries you are considering. My own experience is that many, if not most, European countries, Australia, New Zealand etc. will not accept older "unqualified" immigrants ( ie not meeting family or employment qualifications) if they feel it will strain their health care system. Are you referring to places like Mexico or Costa Rica?