Jem07- My mother with Alzheimer's had a long term care policy. But the policy lapsed due to non-payment about eight years ago. This was when she was in the early stages and nobody was tracking what she was doing. We now know that she was making many decisions that she would not have made a few years earlier. This does bring up the question though, how often do companies make substantial profits on long-term care policies that lapse due to bad decision making by those covered? If you choose to purchase a long-term care policy, you should definitely make a family member aware of it so that premiums are paid. Of course, once my mother's policy lapsed, the company would not reinstate it. The non-payment was not discovered by family members until nine months later.

Any experiences with long term care insurance? JEM

Oh, Garnette, I can't quit laughing!!!!!!! My son kids me about getting me one of those tool sheds, installing a window unit a/c and a ramp for accessibility to the yard.
Our future is serious business. I have a son, a daughter and a step-son and I think they'll do their part for hubby and me. But who knows when the time comes if they'll even be there.
I don't see how people don't even get a loosely woven plan of action for their old age. It'd be like me never addressing the fact that hurricanes hit my part of country. You can hope they won't come, but believe me they will, just like old age and illness.

yes it is... I'm really surprised at how many people my age dont give a thought to what's going to happen to them when they get old. I think my parents generation is probably the last one to have any expectation of family care.. I foresee a little shed or cardboard box in the corner of the yard for myself lol. and I'm only slightly kidding O.o

Garnette, it's a mystery, isn't it? My dad was the sweetest man, so handsome, intelligent, athletic and wham, he was taken over. I try to accept what happens in life, but dang, I really had a hard time seeing my dad die so young. He didn't look or act 69. He lived life to the fullest. It just wasn't right.
Mom on the other hand has always been mean and hateful to me. At 83, she was still at it until she recently disowned me. Never been diagnosed with mental problems although I think after all she's done, I'd challenge that. ;-)
Most of us don't know what's in store for us. We have to learn from this caregiving and put it in place for ourselves when the time comes. It's a real eye opener, isn't it?

still... 60 years old is pretty darn young to have to worry about inherited alz... my mother is fairly ok at the age of 90 and my father is pretty gone at the age of 83..

Winkpc, I'm sorry about your wife. Such a young age. My dad had Alz, showed signs at about 62 yrs of age, died at 69. My 25 cousins and I wonder if we too will get Alz since some of our parents had it. Maternal great gma, gma and 5 of the 7 sibs. All we can do is wait, be alert. It gets to me sometimes. I just have faith that if I'm going to get it, I've prepared as well as I can and my family is prepared also.
I know you're concerned about your children. I guess they could get genetic testing or such. It'd be a difficult decision, I opted not to go that route.
I'm not going to dwell on something that might not happen. If it does though, I'll just have to accept it just like my father did. Nothing else I can do.

My wife was diagnosed with EOAD when she was 53 years old. She was showing symptoms that resulted in poor job performance. Her father and paternal grandmother had AD when they were in theirlate 70's or 80's. My wife and I have two children who are now in their early 40's. I certainly would urge them to see a neurologist if they started showing symtoms, but since there is no vaccine or other cure for AD, I don't believe any other action is warranted at this time.