Where will Mom live? Your Series of Articles on Seniors and Aging "Misses the Boat".

I have read with great awareness the series of articles that appeared in the Buffalo News beginning on 2-27-00. The writers did an exellent job outlining the reality of the issues that Seniors and Family Caregivers must face when one becomes too frail, suddenly ill, or imcapacitated to take care of one's self. Too often a family member suddenly becomes a caregiver for Mom, or needs some type of services to help Mom stay home. The primary concerns that were outlined by your editors were focused on fear to Seniors for their eventual caring needs and the lack of financial resources in the community to pay for this care.

Your editor states that "COST AND ELGIBILITY RULES ARE SQUEEZING MIDDLE AND WORKING CLASS SENIORS. THE MORE AFFLUENT CAN AFFORD PRIVATE INSURANCE OR LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE, and that MEDICAID PROVIDES REASONABLY GOOD COVERAGE FOR THE VERY POOR". How appalling! This is where the editors "Missed the Boat".

What kind of message is this telling the majority of the readers? That the middle class cannot afford premiums for private long term care coverage for themselves to guarantee a Senior's right to receive quality care in their own home? Is this your message to your audience?

The editors never once mentioned any solution at all for the "Middle Class" other than the problems that they will be faced with when they need some type of care, which are all financial constraints. The lack of education is why many families end up losing their life savings to receive care and there is a solution to this serious problem.

The answer to your editors' outline on aging is the need of education on LTC Funding Options. PERIOD!! If a Senior needs to know what options are available to finance their future care, then they need to be educated on what private long-term care insurance can do for them and their family ahead of time. One program in particular is the NYS Partnership for Long Term Care that has been availble in NYS since March of 1993.

Please let your readers know that there is a choice of funding their Eldercare needs with Private Long-Term Care Insurance by running a supplement to your articles on aging titled, "Let the Seniors Beware, You may be able to stay home to receive care if you look into the availability of affordable Private Long Term Care Insurance."

Sincerely,

David L. Coffelt, Long Term Care Insurance Consultant
4 Lucks Lane, Warren, PA 16365
814-723-9663, 800-861-0402 Ext 2920