Hamilton Insurance Group - April 2020

Hamilton Insurance Group - April 2020

THE SILVER LINING To Your Life & Health

770-744-1855

IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO SUPERMAN, IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU

when you can no longer take care of yourself. LTC can pay for an assisted living facility/ nursing home, or it can pay for an in-home caregiver allowing you to stay in your home. There are three reasons why it would benefit you to start paying for LTC insurance long before you think you’ll need it — while you’re still young and healthy. The first reason is simply that you never know when you’ll start needing a caregiver or to live in an assisted living facility. It can happen suddenly. I remember meeting up with two of my clients a few years ago, a husband and a wife. We’ll call them the Johnsons. At one point during the meeting, Mrs. Johnson took me aside and asked, “Does health insurance cover Viagra?” I chuckled and told her that it did. About a year later, I visited them again, and Mr. Johnson had developed dementia. He struggled with incontinence and he had the mental capacity of an infant. It was incredibly disheartening to see how suddenly the Johnsons’ marriage had changed in that time and how quickly Mr. Johnson’s need for advanced care had arisen. The second reason you shouldn’t wait to start paying for LTC insurance is because your premiums will only get more expensive as you get older. If you start paying for LTC insurance when you’re 50, your annual premium will be around $525. If you wait until you’re 65, that amount more than doubles to $1,091. That being said, the worst option is to wait until you already need

advanced care. My grandpa is 89 years old, and he has to pay for his in-home caregiver out of pocket. On average, an in-home caregiver costs about $4,910 a month! That’s why I’m on a personal mission to make sure no one has to go bankrupt paying for a caregiver or a nursing home. The last reason to consider LTC insurance would be to keep the burden of your care off of your family. Millions of Americans are taking care of an elderly family member for no pay — and that wears people out! Nobody wants to bank on their family being their sole care provider when they can no longer take care of themselves. I remember watching my grandmother take care of my step-grandfather after he was diagnosed with cancer and until he passed. The level of care he required drained her, and I’m pretty sure it took years off her life. We all want to be there for our family when they’re in need, but there’s no reason to take that responsibility on alone. If even Superman needed long-term care, there’s no reason you should think you won’t. Getting LTC insurance is the best way to ensure that if worst comes to worst, you’ll still be covered. If

In 1995, Christopher Reeve, who

played Superman in the four movies about the caped hero released between 1978 and 1987, nearly fatally injured himself after being thrown from a horse and landing on his head. Doctors saved his life, but he was paralyzed from the neck down. He was 43 years old. Reeve’s injury was sudden and unexpected. It’s by no means an accident anyone would wish upon themselves or others, much less think to prepare for. While you might be right that you’ll never get thrown off a horse, injuries, debilitating diseases, and other conditions later in life can catch people off guard. You never know what’s going to happen, so it’s best to be prepared — but how? While many people have health insurance and life insurance, one lesser-known but increasingly important form of coverage is long-term care (LTC) insurance. Advances in health care and medicine have made it possible for people to live far longer than they used to, but they often can’t do so without the help of others, especially if they develop a debilitating illness later in life. That’s where LTC insurance comes into play: It helps you afford any medical and nonmedical needs you might have

you have any additional questions about getting long-term care insurance, feel free to give me a call!

–Duane Hamilton 1 770-744-1855

seniors, some research has shown that vitamin D can improve cognitive function and mood. Better Joint Health The higher vitamin D levels that come with being outside have been shown to alleviate pain in muscles and bones. That means spending more time outside could actually decrease pain levels for seniors suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. So, while those conditions might seem like inhibiting factors for seniors who want to be active, spending time in the sun could actually help. More Opportunities for Physical Activity Being outside naturally leads people of all ages to want to be active, which can be especially beneficial for seniors. Whether you’re exploring a you may believe changing careers isn’t worth the hassle, especially if you’re close to retirement, but here’s the secret: It’s not too late! There’s nothing stopping you from finding a career you love later in life. Here are three tips to get you started. Be Flexible If it’s been a while since you’ve hunted for a job, then you may have forgotten what it’s like. Job searching can be exhausting, and some job requirements can look overwhelming. But getting stuck in your ways and focusing on the things you cannot do will only hinder your ability to find a job you actually love. Instead, take a deep breath and be open to what comes. You may discover a hidden talent or passion! Forget the Money Money matters, but it shouldn’t be your first priority on the job hunt. Instead, consider what’s going to make you the happiest. What’s your dream job? What have you always enjoyed

doing? If money wasn’t an option, what would you be doing right now instead of counting down the hours to 5 p.m.? Be realistic in your goals and find something you love. Seek Guidance Remember, you’re not alone in this fight! Plenty of people switch careers midway through their lives to focus on something they really enjoy. Seek guidance from those who have had a similar experience and look to professional job hunters or consultants for help. Furthermore, after years in the same job or industry, you’re bound to have made a few connections. Reach out for professional support. Regardless of what path you choose, remember that a career you enjoy is always possible. We can’t promise you’ll love getting up at 6 a.m., but at least you won’t dread what comes next.

It’s 6 a.m. on Monday morning, and your alarm clock blares in your face. You groan and, with the thought of another week looming over you, pull yourself out of bed. But the early wake-up call is the least of your worries. Another week has begun, and you’re still stuck in a job you no longer love or maybe never did. Does this sound familiar? If so,

3 Reasons Seniors Should Spend Time Outside

During the cloudy, rainy days of winter, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for seniors to enjoy being outside. With spring well underway and summer on the horizon, now is the time to, in some cases, literally soak up the benefits of being outside. Though there might not be as many outdoor activities open to seniors as there are for younger people, there are still plenty of benefits to spending time out in nature while the sun shines bright. Better Mental Health Sunlight is a major source of vitamin D, and research has shown that it can actually improve mental health in a number of ways. Soaking up the sun can measurably improve your mood, reduce stress levels, and alleviate depression. Specifically among

park or walking along a hiking trail, wanting to see the flowers in bloom and all the seasonal wildlife is a great incentive to be more physically active. Walking isn’t the only way seniors can exercise, though; gardening is also a great way for seniors to become more active outdoors. Seniors can feel the benefits of spending time outside in the sun, even if it’s just for 15 minutes at a time. So, whether it’s going fishing with the grandkids, having a picnic at the park with your spouse, or just going for a stroll, time you spend outside does more for your health than you might think.

2

3 of the B est C ompany A pril F ools ’ P ranks in R ecent Y ears

You can’t believe everything you read online, and that’s true more on April 1 than maybe any other day during the year. Every year, many small businesses, large corporations, and other organizations will try their darndest to fool the public into believing outrageous advertisements and press releases. Over the years, there have been a lot of gotchas from our favorite brands and services. Here are some of the best ones. “Alexa, Am I a Good Boy?” Ever wondered what your pets are trying to tell you? Well, according to an April Fools’ Day ad from massive online retailer Amazon, it appeared that the Echo could understand and respond to our pets’ queries. Whether anyone actually took this prank seriously is unknown, but wouldn’t it be fun to know exactly when the dog wanted some treats? Until then, you’re probably safe to assume that it’s all the time. Coming to a Sidewalk Curb Near You … Once upon a time, gathering around the living room television set was one of the American family’s favorite pastimes. The advent of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime did little to change this. However, in 2018, Redbox announced that it would be joining these media juggernauts in the

streaming game. There was only one catch: Movie watchers would have to gather around their nearby Redbox and stream on the directory screen. Imagine having to fight your way through movie watchers just to pick up your DVD!

Spotify Night Fever Last year, Spotify got in on the April Fools’ Day festivities in a way that had many music listeners do a double take at their Discover Weekly playlists. Normally, this feature on the popular music app introduces listeners to new bands based on their current music tastes. On April 1, however, listeners got a “disco cover” playlist instead, with disco covers of their favorite songs. Just when you think April Fools’ Day pranks are dead, gimmicks like this let us know they’re stayin’ alive. Time will only tell how companies will choose to fool their customers in 2020!

B eet , G oat C heese , and A rugula S alad

When is the last time you reviewed your life insurance policy? There is an old saying that nothing is permanent except change. This is especially true for your life insurance needs. Life’s changes — large and small, good and bad — including the passage of time, affect your insurance needs: • Birthdays • A change in your relationship status • An addition to your family A brief visit is all it takes to review your coverage to ensure you and your loved ones have adequate protection. I encourage you to take advantage of this Free Service. The last thing you want is to find out when it is too late! As a valued client. I will review your policy no matter who set up your policy.

Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 3 tbsp shallots, thinly sliced • 1 tbsp honey • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil • Salt and pepper to taste • 6 beets, peeled and quartered • 6 cups fresh arugula

• 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped • 1/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries • 1/2 avocado, cubed • 2 oz crumbled goat cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 2. In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, shallots, and honey. 3. Gradually whisk olive oil into the mixture and season with salt and pepper. 4. In a small bowl, toss the beets in dressing until they are coated. 5. Place coated beets on baking sheet and roast them for 12 minutes. Set the beets aside and allow them to cool. 6. In a large bowl, toss arugula, walnuts, and berries with the remaining vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. 7. Top salad with beets, avocado, and goat cheese.

3 770-744-1855

1170 Peachtree Street NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30309

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

770-744-1855

1

Even Superman Needed Long-Term Care Finding a Job You Love at Any Age 3 Reasons Why Seniors Should Spend Time Outside 3 Top-Tier April Fools’ Day Pranks From Companies Beet, Goat Cheese, and Arugula Salad Keep America Beautiful

2

2

3 3

4

DO YOUR PART TO KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL

Have you ever walked through a park and seen a plastic bottle or wrapper lying on the ground? If so, did you pick it up and properly dispose of it? You might not have realized it, but in that moment, you took a small step toward keeping your community — and, by extension, America — beautiful! April is Keep America Beautiful Month, and folks who celebrate aim to help each community in every state stay clean and green. Created by the nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful, this holiday offers a perfect opportunity to roll up your sleeves and work to better the place you live in. Here are three ways to show your appreciation for a green America this month. Volunteer for the Great American Cleanup. This event is one of America’s largest community

improvement programs, with hundreds of thousands of people participating each year. In 2019, over 550,000 volunteers participated in the GAC to bring natural beauty back into their communities. 2020 marks this event’s 22nd year, and you can be a part of it this month! Volunteer your time with a local Keep America Beautiful affiliate or another community improvement program close to home. Do your part to clean up your parks and spread awareness today. Start plogging. If you’re passionate about staying active and cleaning up your neighborhood, then this is the perfect activity for you! Plogging combines jogging and picking up litter, which takes care of your health and keeps your community clean. Anybody can do it: Just throw on your running shoes, grab a bag, head out the door, and pick up any stray bits of

trash you see on your morning jog or evening walk. Improve recycling through education. An important goal during Keep America Beautiful Month is to spread awareness about recycling. There are various ways to educate those around you about recycling and encourage them to do their part. At work, for example, you can volunteer to lead a recycling initiative by printing off guides and fostering discussions on why recycling is so essential. At home, you can make a commitment with your family to fulfill the three R’s of recycling: reduce, reuse, recycle. To discover more ways to participate in Keep America Beautiful month, visit their website at KAB.org today!

4