Preparing For Tomorrow podcast

Hosted by Diane Stoddart, Certified Long Term Care Consultant, CLTC

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281

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Diane Stoddart, Certified Long Term Care Consultant, will show you how to protect your family and loved ones from the financial, physical and emotional burdens and consequences when long term care is needed. In each episode, Diane will help you to navigate through long term care concepts, terms and options and to discuss what strategies are available that can best protect both your family and your nest egg. We will invite guests to sit with us and share ideas regarding various parts of our lives as they relate to long term care planning.

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60 recent

August 20, 2026Episode 4414 min

When is it not a good idea to buy LTC insurance?

This week, Diane shares some situations when LTC insurance may not be the answer for a family. It's clear that if Diane and her husband had listened to this advice 25 years ago, they would not own LTC insurance today, and they would not be approved by almost every company that offers these plans if they were looking for answers today. To be clear, this is not all or nothing. There are always circumstances that could alter these points. The important thing to know is that, when it IS appropriate to transfer some of your risk to insurance, do it as soon as you can to obtain the lowest total premiums paid and to potentially receive good health discounts. View current and projected costs of care at https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care and please use the 4% or 5% inflation growth when viewing future costs. If we think LTC inflation will be lower than that, we're lying to ourselves. Then schedule a free, no obligation consult with Diane to learn how you can transfer some of your risk https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

August 13, 2026Episode 4312 min

What are typical exclusions with LTC insurance?

Mike emailed asking about typical exclusions or pre-existing concerns with LTC insurance. LTC insurance is governed by Internal revenue Code (IRC) 7702(b). To be able to offer insurance, companies must adhere to this rule. American Association for LTC insurance (AALTCi) has many resources available on this https://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/ You can view both current and projected costs of care where you live at https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care I strongly suggest using a 4 or 5% cost of living factor when checking future costs. I think we'd be lying to ourselves if we believe the costs of care will be lower than that in the future. Baby Boomers are starting to turn 80 this year. Learn how Medicaid works (or doesn't work) in your state at https://www.elderlawanswers.com/ Book a quick phone or zoom meeting to ask a question at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/15min Book an introductory get to know you meeting at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min Schedule an initial no obligation consultation at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/60min Get ready to Prepare for Tomorrow!!!

August 6, 2026Episode 4111 min

What's on the menu?

Just send me a quote can be compared to going out for dinner, but on a bigger level. When we go out to eat, we consider how hungry we are, what atmosphere we want for dining, what fits our budget, what kind and amount of food we want, and more. We need to plan for LTC needs the same way. Where would we want to live? Who will be providing care? How can we afford this? What companies and plans will consider our health risk? As a planning specialist, I have several insurance companies (restaurants) with various planning and funding options (menu). LTC planning can seem overwhelming, but if we know and understand what we want, we can eliminate menu items (plan options) and restaurants (insurance carriers) to focus on the one's who will pay for the type of care we would want and by whom. As your guide, I help to clarify your questions and share answers to those questions so you can decide what's best for you and your family. Schedule an introductory call or zoom meeting with me to start planning https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

July 30, 2026Episode 4114 min

Which is my favorite hybrid LTC plan?

This week, because I was the primary caregiver for our very sick dog, I exhausted myself for 10 days (nothing compared to caring for a parent or grandparent for several years). We're replaying one of your most listened to episodes about hybrid life/LTC plans as a refresher. Learn current and projected costs of care where you live at https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Learn what each state let's you keep to qualify for Medicaid at https://gotltci.com/2026/01/what-your-state-lets-you-keep/ and please note that if you request to meet with a specialist from this website, you'll need to ask for me specifically as there are six specialists on this team. Schedule an introductory meeting with Diane at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min Schedule a full initial consultation to learn how to protect your family at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/60min And take care of your favorite furry family members!!!!

July 23, 2026Episode 4011 min

What's Your Long Term Care Plan?

As promised, here is the link to view my dog's awesome workout routine on Facebook Frank's facebook reels He's doing a little better each day and will hopefully be back to normal in a few more days. On long term care, we all have a plan. Some of us know what our plan is, and some are leaving the decisions up to others, maybe family, maybe the state Medicaid system. In either case, if our memory is fading, or if our decision making skills diminish, we can't be involved in those decisions, and the people around us are stuck tryuing to figure out what we would have wanted. If we have these conversations 10-20-30 years before a need shows up that forces us to need help to get through each day, then our people will know what we would want. Whether you choose to own LTC insurance in some form or not, you still need to have a plan, and those you love most need to know what that plan is. Email me at diane@preparing4tomorrow.com and I'll reply sending you tools and resources you can use to build your plan. Then, once you know where you would like to live and who you would like to have helping you, schedule time with me to figure out how you can afford to implement your plan here

July 16, 2026Episode 4113 min

Guest Interview: Mary Ellen Gilbert with Navacare

This week, my guest Mary Ellen Gilbert with https://navacare.org/ shares how we can see the early signs that an aging parent or family member needs more support, even when they insist they're fine. She shares how her company helps families find the right place where their loved one can be the most comfortable at a time when nothing seems comfortable. We need to understand that the person in need is not resisting the help; they're resisting losing thier independence. That we can help them stay as independent as possible with the right support. We need to have these conversations early, so we're not scrambling to figure out what they would have wanted without their input. We always feel guilty that we're doing it wrong if we don't ask early enough to know what they would want. As caregivers, we also need support to know we're not the only one going through this. Navacare offers a free support group for family members in the Clearwater, Tampa Bay area, and they have an online course that can be purchased that walks families through the A-Z of the aging process. These resources are so valuable and can be found in their website https://navacare.org/ Once Mom or Dad is safe, or even better, before they need your support, reach out to me to prepare for your tomorrow at my 30 minute introductory meeting

July 9, 2026Episode 3711 min

How to keep our parents from ruining our plans

We all want to wait as long as we can to buy LTC insurance. Too often, health concerns diminish or eliminate what can be offered. In this week's episode, Diane shares consequences that show up when our parent's health and care needs interfere with our ability to plan well. If we implement and start paying the premiums earlier, we can fully fund our policies before mom or dad needs our money and/or our time because they had failed to prepare for their own care needs. If we could completely fund our plan before mom or dad asks for $2000/$4000/$6000 every month for their care, then we know we'll be prepared for our tomorrow and won't need to do the same to our kids, or friends or relatives. When we wait, our parents' negligence or denial of their own needs can prevent us from being financially secure when our own long term care is needed. Learn what your state Medicaid dept let's you keep to qualify for Medicaid at https://gotltci.com/2026/01/what-your-state-lets-you-keep/ Schedule an introductory meeting to learn if some form of LTC insurance is an appropriate tool for your family at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/15min Schedule a full no obligation consult at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/60min

July 2, 2026Episode 3711 min

Where are we most independent as we age?

This week we turn independence upside down. We think we're independent when we can live and receive care in our homes, but that forces our family to reshape their lives to support our progressing needs. Then families feel really bad when they realize they can't do it - they never knew how much work and time it takes. So many parents beg their children to never "put" them somewhere. Or when the subject comes up, they exclaim, "I'm not ready yet!" But then, after they do move to Senior Living, the new exclamation becomes "OMG, why didn't I move her sooner?" Senior Living communities are evolving to meet Baby Boomer demands for comfort and activities. Today, the good ones can be considered Resorts with Help. The better ones, with the best employees who can nurture our well-being and create a great culture cost more than others. The median cost for assisted living today across the country is $75,000 annually and is expected to increase to over $200,000 per year in 20 years. That's median, so the resort like places will cost more. We need to prepare today so we can choose where we can live later. View current and projected costs of care (use 5% inflation growth) at https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Schedule a brief introductory call or zoom meeting with Diane at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

June 25, 2026Episode 3610 min

He walked out on us

In almost three decades, I've been asked to leave, I've been hung up on, I've been sworn at and more. But only one person actually got up and walked out of the meeting. This week, I'm talking about dads. The 82 year olds and the 32 year olds and how the role is changing for the better, in my opinion. Men are stepping up to help more with the kids and to just be present for them. It's a choice. It's also a choice to prepare today for a time when it may be harder to do the things that are taken for granted today, like putting on socks and shoes, or walking up steps without assistance. Hopefully, the dad's who are willing to be vulnerable today with children growing up will be willing to admit that there may be a time when help is needed. They'll prepare for those days as well. View current and projected costs of care using 5% COLA https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Check out a ton of great consumer resources at the American Association for LTC Insurance https://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/ Schedule an introductory meeting with Diane at https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min

June 18, 2026Episode 3512 min

What is LTC Partnership and how can it help me?

This week, we learn about how state LTC Partnership programs started and how they developed over time to include most states. What is Long Term care Partnership? Why is this an effective way to help middle income and middle asset families protect savings when long term care is needed. Who benefits from these kinds of plans? The American Association for Long Term Care Advocacy has a ton of inormation on Partnership and may other subjects. You can find it https://www.aaltci.org/long-term-care-insurance/learning-center/long-term-care-insurance-partnership-plans.php You can view both current and projected costs of care )please be realistic and use 5% annual inflation https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care Learn what state Medicaid programs let you keep and qualify for Medicaid https://gotltci.com/2026/01/what-your-state-lets-you-keep/ This is my colleagues website, and I am one of the Specialisrts you can get if you schedule a meeting through this website. But you may get someone else, so use it for research as there are so much great information. Then schedule a 30 minutre introductory meeting with me to help me understand your quest https://calendly.com/diane-p4t/30min