The Texas Long-Term Care Partnership and the 3in4 Association are joining forces to host a series of free seminars in July to encourage people to think about how they’re going to pay for their long-term care. The seminars will take place in conjunction with the “3in4 Need More” national bus tour, which will make stops in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio starting the week of July 16, 2012.

For information on the seminars and to sign up to attend,
go to http://www.3in4needmore.net/edu/texas

On a 50-city tour of talks on elder care, Dr. Marion has touched down in Chicago to host an event on financial planning, elder planning and other age-related issues.

Jonas Roeser of the 3in4 Need More campaign visits OLINS and MR Direct in Salt Lake City to review progress with building awareness materials for campaign support.

The 3in4 is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of planning for ones long term care needs. The campaign utilizes multiple marketing strategies in order to increase awareness nationally around products, services and programs that support long term care planning.

BECOME A 3IN4 RESOURCE HERE

Rochester YNN News features the 3in4 Need More campaign. Campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of planning for ones long term care needs. The campaign utilizes multiple marketing strategies in order to increase awareness nationally around products, services and programs that support long term care planning.

Dr. Marion is the national spokesperson for the 3in4 Need More Association’s consumer awareness campaign. You only need to spend a few minutes with Dr. Marion to realize that her caring personality and passion for her message create a potent package that allows her to connect with people.

Our weekend began when the 3in4 tour bus rolled in for a visit at a local senior center near the LifeSecure Insurance headquarters. At the center, Dr. Marion was the featured guest at a lunch to recognize Meals on Wheels volunteers and local seniors.

The senior center is affiliated with the Livingston County Senior Nutrition Program, whose talented staffers and volunteers operate an impressive Meals on Wheels program that serves a large, three-county area in Southeast Michigan. Before lunch, we were given a behind-the-scenes look at how the Meals on Wheels program prepares nearly one thousand meals for delivery every day. Dr. Marion also joined a dedicated volunteer on her route to deliver a few meals and provide a little companionship to local seniors.

During lunch, Dr. Marion entertained a crowd of nearly 100 seniors as she spoke about her work, her past experiences, elder issues, and of course, her vintage Greyhound bus. She was really in her element when she spoke one-on-one with anyone who wanted to talk about aging and long-term care. If they had a question, she had an answer, some advice, and in most cases, an anecdote that left everyone smiling.

The next morning Dr. Marion joined the employees of LifeSecure at Miles for Meals, a 5k & 10k run and 5k walk to benefit Meals on Wheels. LifeSecure was also a corporate sponsor of the event, which is the largest annual fundraiser for our area’s Meals on Wheels program. In addition to meeting with local residents, runners and families to share the 3in4 Need More message, Dr. Marion was the official race starter and presented awards to the top runners.

Most of us in the industry understand the topic of long-term care can be difficult for families to discuss. And failing to plan can place an overwhelming amount of stress on one’s personal health, finances and family relationships, especially for women. Seeing Dr. Marion’s dedication to educating consumers and advocating proactive planning is a welcome reminder of the important duty we all have to promote solutions and resources that empower families to prepare for the demands of long-term care.

Fox Morning Extra Features Dr. Marion on Long-Term Care Planning for seniors and caregivers.

Read more long-term care planning and elder care advice from Dr. Marion at www.DrMarion.com

The focus will be on planning for long-term care when a national bus tour stops in Texas and rolls out seminars designed to help people learn more about the subject.

Read the NewsWire Release Here

KIRKLAND, Wash., June 21, 2012 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Texas Long-Term Care Partnership and the 3in4 Association are joining forces to host a series of free seminars in July to encourage people to think about how they’re going to pay for their long-term care.Studies show that nearly three out of four Americans will need some kind of long-term care, help with preparing meals, getting dressed or simply getting around, but most don’t have a plan for how they’ll pay for those services. People may need long-term care after a debilitating injury or illness, but the services aren’t covered by typical health or disability insurance, or even Medicare.The seminars will take place in conjunction with the “3in4 Need More” national bus tour, which will make stops in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio the week of July 16.

The 3in4 Association is a nonprofit industry association dedicated to increasing awareness about the need to plan for long-term care. The organization’s bus tour features noted eldercare expert Dr. Marion Somers. During each Texas stop on the tour, “Dr. Marion” will host at least one of the free seminars.

“People think their health or disability insurance covers long-term care but it doesn’t,” Somers says. “These seminars are basically to let people know that there is a geriatric tsunami headed our way and if we don’t start planning for our needs now, especially the younger people, we’re going to be swamped. But there is something we can do about it. Planning now can save thousands of dollars and a lot of time and stress in the long run.”

Along with the 3in4 Association, the Texas Long-Term Care Partnership is co-hosting the long-term care seminars in Texas. The partnership was created by the Texas Legislature to increase awareness about the importance of planning for long-term care. Partners include the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the Texas Department of Insurance, and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. The partnership’s website, http://www.OwnYourFutureTexas.org, has information about long-term care and interactive tools to help develop a strategy for how to plan for those services.

The 3in4 Association provides a national LTC insurance specialist locator by ZIP code and cost of care calculators for the consumer at http://www.3in4NeedMore.com.

To see a list of dates, times, and locations for seminars in each city, or to sign up for one of them, visit http://www.3in4needmore.net/edu/texas (redirects to event listing page).

Schedule for the free long-term care planning seminars:
* Austin: July 18 and 19, 2012;
* San Antonio: July 19 and 20, 2012;
* Houston: July 20 and 21, 2012;
* Dallas/Fort Worth: July 21, 23, and 24, 2012.

- Photo Caption: Noted long-term care advocate Dr. Marion Somers.

The redesign was done by the Marketing Technologists and will help with our search engine optimization and website traffic.

Read Original Article Here
By PEGGY KUNKEL
Kirkland Reporter UW News Lab
May 24 2012

Dr. Marion Somers likes to quote former first lady Rosalynn Carter when it comes to planning for long-term care: “There are only four kinds of people in the world — those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers and those who will need caregivers.”

A long-time geriatric specialist and author, Somers was in Bellevue on May 14 to talk about long-term care and how most people are not adequately prepared for it.

She joined forces with two local entities: 3 in 4 Need More, a Kirkland-based nonprofit, and Emeritus Senior Living. Together, they have launched a nationwide senior talent competition to raise awareness of the importance of planning for long-term care. It began April 30 and will run through July 31.

Traveling in a 1967 Greyhound bus that has been converted to living quarters and studio for the summer-long tour, Somers spoke first to the Master Builders Association in Bellevue. Sherry Schwab, president of that organization, noted “one of us celebrates that 65th birthday every day; boomers are healthier, living longer, many live in our community, but haven’t prepared adequately for long-term care.”

Jonas Roeser, president of 3 in 4 Need More, added: “Statistics show that nearly three out of four people are going to need long-term care at some point after they reach age 65. … When you’re a business owner, this represents three out of four of your employees.”

Somers spoke passionately on the topic. “We have a crisis in this country. We have an elder-care tsunami heading this way,” she said. “We need to individually, collectively, as family, as a community, deal with the elder-care issue.”

She is concerned that many people don’t realize that long-term care planning needs to start early.

“Check out your resources now – the knight in shining armor is not going to come knocking on your door and say these are the resources available to you,” said Somers, who has been a featured speaker on The TODAY Show, ABC News Now, Good Morning America Now and dozens of local morning news shows. Also, her public service announcement “Dr. Marion Minute” elder care program currently airs on more than 300 radio outlets coast-to-coast.

One must know what the triggers are before long-term insurance might kick in, such as activities for daily living, eating, brushing teeth. Somers said, “Are you heavily drinking? Smoking? Not getting enough sleep or exercise? Start right now taking care of yourself.”

The average person doesn’t understand the limitations of Medicare, Medicaid, or the restrictions imposed by one’s own income bracket, she said.  Personal savings can disappear in a month with hospital expenses. Planning is needed. People need to be sure their families know what care they want and for what benefits they are eligible.

Somers added, “This is a political hot potato; nobody wants to deal with it, because nobody knows how to fix it. It comes down to what you can do for yourself. The government can provide tax incentives, but only you as a voter can help government decide what works. Awareness is key — spread the word.”

Boarding her vintage Greyhound, Somers then traveled to Emeritus Senior Living in Bellevue, where she spoke and emceed the senior talent competition.

Special guest 48th District state Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the budget committee, asked: “How do we fund long-term care (and) have the financial wherewithal for seniors to be comfortable in their old age? We face all the boomers in our Medicaid system. If I were you, I’d want to make sure you’re not dependent on the guys in Washington, D.C.”

The talent competition included an “Armchair Fitness Opening Act” in which seniors exercised to music. Next, Claire Tompos, accompanied on the piano by Herb Steuer, belted out the song, “That’s Why the Lady is a Tramp.”

The exhibition of more talent followed, including original paintings, pen and paper art, knitted gems, poems, short stories, original piano compositions and soloists. The event concluded with Steve Klos playing the harmonica. The audience joined in singing “Sailor.” The competitors were mostly residents at the Emeritus community.

The talent competition, which is nationwide, will wrap up Aug. 13 and winners will be announced then. First-prize winner will receive one free year of rent at any Emeritus community of their choice; 11 runners-up will each receive one free week.

Somers’ tips

• Toss out throw rugs! Once you break a hip, your whole life changes. Don’t risk it.

• Correct poor lighting.

• Become pro-active; know your resources. Educate yourself about the emotional and financial impact of long-term care.