Why I do what I do

Before my mother passed, she needed much care.  Not only had she only one kidney, but she was on dialysis.  Sometime in the past, we also believe she had a stroke because one day she woke up behaving differently than normal.  She loss focus over the years after retirement and needed someone to look after her personal affairs.  Someone broke into our childhood home so we were also concerned for her well-being living alone.  As if that wasn't enough, she started to have heart problems.  My sister then took her in when she had four young children and a husband.

Sounds like a wonderful ending, right?  For her, all she had to worry about was her daily affairs such as going to the doctor or dialysis.  The real burden as she began to lose her activities of daily living rested on my sister.  The family wants to say they will take care of their parents when they get old, but when the time comes stark reality hits.  Mom had to have assistance with her incontinence and walking.  We were fortunate that she didn't mind the assistance but some parents are taken off guard or even offended to think one of their children will assist them.  The offspring often have obligations such as jobs and family they have to attend further adding stress to the situation.  Some move miles away over the years.  Then, the reality of cleaning Mom's incontinence, feeding, or bathing is something they may not have considered.  Some just can not provide the necessary care being physically unfit for the task.

We were anything but rich so we did not have a plan for this life-changing event.  Eventually, she needed to be put into a nursing home where someone was available around the clock to assist her walking, bathing, toileting, and eating.  

Today, we find the same care would cost over $143,000.00 annually.  Medicare doesn't pay for that care.  If my parents had a plan in place the cost would not be a problem.  Sadly, many people are just like them.  

They don't have to be.  That is why I like to spread the word.

Then, there is the story behind my dad.  My dad retired at age 65 and then passed the following year.  He started having health problems shortly after retirement but was too stubborn to go to the doctor.  There is the possibility he didn't want to know until after I graduated from college so he would have a clear mind.  Whatever his logic, he was diagnosed with colon cancer.  Back in those days, the more practiced procedure was to remove the infected body parts and wish you luck.  That luck only lasted a short few months before we found cancer had metastasized.  At this point, there was no further hope.

Had I known and the product was available, he could have had a Medicare Supplement to take care of his hospital bills.  People today are ill-informed or worse not informed, so they miss out and have to pay for care themselves.  I can offer a plan to fit any budget and that is why I spread the word.