The Later in Life Planning Show

by Patrick Cawley

The Middle Class faces specific threats in the later years of life. Long-term care expenses will attack and consume your savings. Know your threats and build a shield.

Podcast episodes

  • Season 1

  • The Political Courage We Need

    The Political Courage We Need

    In challenging times, personal responsibility and political courage can prevent a catastrophe. What challenges are we facing? The population of people over the age of 65 is swelling. It is very likely that older adults will need long-term care. Long-term care is expensive and generally not covered by Medicare. So the hard-working Middle Class faces a financial disaster if a member of the household has a stroke, dementia, or any number of mobility-limiting conditions. Medicaid is the social safety net, but few people understand its rules. People lose their homes to Medicaid estate recovery, a program that further sets the Middle Class back from forward progress while doing little to recoup costs for the government. If the depressing statistics are accurate, most people do no estate planning, let alone the kind of planning that protects the hard-earned savings of the Middle Class from long-term care costs. Until the political class demonstrates some courage and creativity, this is the system we have. So personal responsibility becomes essential. Challenging times are upon us. Build a shield with good planning.

  • Enrich Your Life with Service

    Enrich Your Life with Service

    Psychologists call it "role theory." For every role you have -- parent, coach, friend, coworker -- there is a source of purpose and meaning in your life. Older adults tend to lose roles as they see children move out, they retire, and they become less involved in their community. Volunteering not only provides a new role and a new purpose for older adults, but also research shows that volunteers report lower levels of stress and greater amounts of life satisfaction. Volunteers report less discomfort than non-volunteers in the population of people dealing with chronic pain or illness. But where can older adults find their new role and their new purpose in service? Enter the United Way. A long-standing pillar of service, the United Way vets every nonprofit organization to determine that funds will be well spent and volunteers will provide impactful service to those who are truly in need. In this episode, Jason Maddux of the United Way of Carlisle & Cumberland County discusses the wide array of service opportunities that are available.

  • Preventing Frailty of Body and Mind

    Preventing Frailty of Body and Mind

    Legal planning should address incapacity and protect your life savings from costly long-term care. But life planning should aim to extend the years of your independence and enjoyment of everything that brings you joy. It is very common for older adults to lose muscle mass and bone density, leaving them prone to life-altering injuries and unable to perform simple tasks like carrying groceries or laundry. Having the physical stability and strength to golf or play with grandchildren is just the start. There is a well established connection between physical fitness and positive mental health. And the good news is that it is never too late to start making progress to combat the loss of muscle mass, bone density, and cognitive clarity. Katie Martz from Fox Rehabilitation explains these challenges and solutions in this episode.

  • Free Resources to Keep You Healthy and Independent

    Free Resources to Keep You Healthy and Independent

    In the practice of elder law, there is a long parade of people with chronic illnesses, cognitive decline, and impairments to their mobility. Good legal planning can make the necessary support and care much easier. But what if people could invest some time and energy in a program that prevented the decline in health from ever happening? In this episode, Amy Jacobs from the YMCA Center for Healthy Living explains the various programs that are offered free of charge to the community. These programs are evidence-based, meaning that careful research and testing went into the curriculum to make sure that the programs work. They are done in group settings, which helps each participant maintain the drive to get better even when motivation is lacking. From lowering blood pressure and getting off of medications to preventing diabetes and all its complications, these programs are easily available to the public and make an extraordinary impact on public health. You should have good legal planning for the later years of life, but it's even better if the common threats to your life savings never happen because you made a positive lifestyle change.

  • The State of the Long-Term Care Industry

    The State of the Long-Term Care Industry

    Every older adult needing nursing home care has a legal right to protect assets and pay for that care with Medicaid. But for every resident on Medicaid, the nursing homes lose money every day. As the ranks of older adults swell, care facilities are under pressure. Care facilities provide a vitally important service in our aging communities and many are closing their doors. In this episode, Zach Shamberg, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Health Care Association, explains Medicaid rates, workforce challenges, government mandates, and solutions that he brings to policy makers.