Most people plan to “figure it out later,” until later arrives with a hospital bracelet and a stack of bills. We invited Raymond Lavine—financial services veteran, caregiver advocate, and host of Planning with Purpose—to help us design long-term care with intention instead of panic. The result is a candid, deeply practical conversation about how to choose where and how you’re cared for, what it costs, and how to set up your family to act without confusion.
We start by reframing the problem: long-term care is not just an end-of-life issue. It can be triggered by accidents, stroke, cancer, cognitive decline, or simple frailty at any age. Raymond outlines a three-part framework—vision, timing, and funding. Vision means deciding whether you prefer care at home or in a facility and how you want decisions made if you can’t make them yourself. Timing means starting before health issues limit options, since underwriting and premiums hinge on current health. Funding explores self-funding versus long-term care insurance and hybrid policies, with plain talk about taxes, liquidity, and how to balance premium costs with meaningful benefits.
We also unpack the confusion around Medicare Advantage versus Medigap, why so many people get conflicting answers, and how to find the right expert who will translate trade-offs into clear choices. Then we move into organization: communicating your wishes to family, setting powers of attorney and health directives, and keeping critical documents accessible both on paper and digitally. Raymond shares simple, repeatable habits—using calculators to estimate longevity and cost of care, logging medical visits and medications, and reviewing plans after major life events—that protect dignity and reduce chaos when stress is high.
If you want a plan that preserves independence and spares your family from guesswork, this conversation outlines the steps to get started today. Listen now, share it with someone you love, and tell us one action you’ll take this week. If the show helps, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it along to a friend who needs a nudge.
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