Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Spotlight on Navigating the Eldercare Journey by Jodi Clock

A Must-Have Book!

Navigating the Eldercare Journey: Without Going Broke
by Jodi Clock

About The Author:

For over 25 years, Jodi M. Clock has worked in the ‘end-of-life planning’ industry, including family and corporately owned funeral homes, advance funeral planning companies, casket manufacturers and insurance agencies. Having personally witnessed the financial confusion that families endure, especially at an emotionally taxing time, Ms. Clock has centered her career on helping people to understand the options that are available to them. She currently writes and speaks about the basics of Medicaid and asset protection and is a seasoned expert in end-of-life directives.
Ms. Clock wrote Navigating the Elder Care Journey...Without Going Broke! to help people appreciate the important facts they need to know in order to make the right financial choices, in one easy-to- understand guide. It is her hope that through the personal stories, straightforward information, and family care plans which include checklists, she will help people manage this process. Her goal is for everyone to become informed on options available that will not leave their hard-earned assets unnecessarily exposed, potentially saving them hundreds if not thousands of dollars; qualify for Medicaid; and have their funeral expenses pre-paid, therefore allowing their loved ones the ability to focus on what’s important and not have anxiety or stress over finances.
When she’s not consulting or helping manage the family funeral business, she volunteers with The Noah Project, a no kill animal shelter. An avid animal lover and supporter, she has a house full of pets and enjoys spending time on the western Michigan shoreline.



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Genre:

Non-Fiction / Aging Parents/ End of Life/ Eldercare / Financial Planning
Publisher: Windy City Publishers
Release Date: April 26, 2013


Book Description:

I don’t feel old.  I don’t feel anything until noon.

That’s when it’s time for my nap.” 

Bob Hope


We’ve all enjoyed a good laugh at the perils of getting older. But entering your Golden Years without any money is no joke. End-of life planning is a difficult subject to talk about - between facing mortality (either your parents or your own) to discussing the ever-confusing subject revolving around long term care options or understanding the differences between Medicare and Medicaid, or a living will vs. a living trust, there’s nothing fun about facing death and the issues that come with it.

Navigating the Eldercare Journey – Without Going Broke! can help reduce the challenges and minimize frustration encountered when you are placed in this situation. This easy-to-understand guide takes you from the basics of understanding long term care options that are available, how to seek out an elder care attorney and know if they are good fit for your needs, and how to qualify for Medicaid as a financial means to pay for care, including the benefits of funeral planning - in layman’s terms. Author Jodi M. Clock provides fundamental information regarding the basics in a way that helps you understand not only why her recommendations are important, but how you can minimize financial exposure regarding end-of-life events. Whether you are in a crisis situation or taking proactive measures, these valuable end-of-life solutions could safeguard you and your parents’ assets.

You have a choice – be proactive and preserve your money. Don’t leave it unprotected and unnecessarily taxed when you or your parents die. No matter how prepared you think you are, the reality of death is sobering, and expensive. When time is on your side, you can make well- thought-out, proactive decisions, enabling you to focus on what’s most important in life.



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Praise for Navigating the Eldercare Journey:Without Going Broke!~



"Absolutely Essential Reading!" ~AuctionHugh, Amazon Reviewer



"This book was insightful and educational. The layout of the book (especially the key points) allows you to easily scan pages if you don't need to read the entire chapter."~Laura, Amazon Reviewer



"Everyone should have a copy of this book in their home. An easy read, but full of useful information. It relieved a lot of the stress I felt about this topic." ~Bill Sangster, Amazon Reviewer



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Excerpt:

The Emergence of Medicaid Planning Medicaid planning is a new concept and is probably somewhat of a mystery unless it has impacted you or someone you love directly. Quite possibly, “You don’t know what you don’t know”. Receiving Medicaid assistance to pay for endof-life care is based primarily on net worth and income. Your financial assets cannot exceed a certain amount. If they do, you will be required to pay for your care privately until your assets are depleted to the point at which you do qualify. This often causes individuals to enter into a “spend down” cycle that depletes their personal nest eggs. With good planning, however, you can properly position and reallocate your assets to preserve your nest egg and also qualify for Medicaid.

Up until the last 20 years or so the need to reposition assets (i.e., to have all of the individual’s assets owned by a living trust) to qualify for Medicaid assistance didn’t exist. Why? The average life expectancy was not as long as it is today. In our parent’s generation, someone living to age 80 was equivalent to someone today living to be 90 or even 100 years old. Over the next 25 years, as the baby boomer generation begins to age, the number of people who will be in need of this type of planning will be tremendous. Organization is essential!

The criterion for Medicaid is specific, and if you need help understanding it, there are resources available. Don’t let the process be intimidating!






2 comments:

BrandiKae said...

Thank you for hosting Jodi today. I think this is a very important book that everyone should read :)

Donna E said...

Both of my partents died within the last 7 years. Neither were in a nursing home, but both were on Hospice. {They were in their 80's}
My hubby and I are now both over 66, and are drawing SS, although he is still actively working. Eldercare is something I do think about; and I KNOW we do not know the things we SHOULD know.