Planning for Dignity: A Real-Life Story of Long-Term Care

When it comes to aging, the unexpected can accelerate life’s hardest transitions. But with planning, it can also preserve dignity, comfort, and choice.

I thought of this recently while reflecting on someone very dear to me: Dodee.

For more than a decade, I visited Dodee weekly at her retirement community. Over time, she became a friend and a grandmother-like figure in my life. We spent countless hours painting, crafting, and drinking copious amounts of coffee. One of our most meaningful projects was working on her memoirs, page by page, to preserve her memories and create a keepsake for her family.

Carmen and Dodee with her memoirs, a reflection of love, planning, and a life well lived.

​​When I returned to visit after a year away—having moved and no longer able to come weekly—something had changed.

She pointed to a photo in the book, not to reminisce, but to tell me she was one of the women in it. I recognized the image instantly: it was her great-aunts. She didn’t recognize them. She didn’t recognize herself. And she didn’t recognize me.

It was a quiet moment, but it landed heavily. Being forgotten is hard. And even more so, I imagine, for her daughter and granddaughter who had walked so closely with her throughout her aging journey.

But this story is not just about memory loss. It’s about the power of planning ahead — a decision Dodee made decades earlier that quietly shaped her final chapter.

“The day it rained indoors.”

Sherlee, a dear family friend, marked the shift in Dodee’s health with a single phrase I’ll never forget: “It was the day it rained indoors.”

A pipe had burst above Dodee’s bed in her retirement apartment. Staff responded quickly, but per policy, the emergency damage required her relocation from independent living to assisted care. That meant forfeiting her longtime apartment –– her home, her comfort, and the space that held so many of her memories.

Her world got smaller that day.

And yet, amid the loss, there was dignity. Because decades earlier –– perhaps in her 50s or 60s –– Dodee had secured long-term care insurance. At the time, she was healthy and independent. Maybe she was thinking of her husband Ward, who lived with Alzheimer’s. Or maybe she was guided by her parents’ own longevity. Either way, she planned for the inevitable with intention and care.

That decision mattered.

When her care needs increased and costs soared to $18,000 per month, her long-term care policy covered $5,000. The rest was supported by a modest nest egg — an inheritance preserved through decades of intentional financial planning.

Because long-term care planning is not just a financial task — it’s an act of care. For yourself. For your family. For the future.

This wasn’t luck. It was a legacy.

Dodee lived to 105, surrounded by the kind of love and support that many people hope for in their later years. Her life was long –– but more importantly, it was dignified. That didn’t happen by accident.

It happened because she made thoughtful, early decisions.

And that’s why I share her story now. Because long-term care planning is not just a financial task — it’s an act of care. For yourself. For your family. For the future.

Planning for what matters most.

You may have asked yourself:

• What would happen if I or a loved one needed extended care?

• Could we afford it? Would our choices be limited?

• Would our legacy be preserved—or consumed by medical bills?

These are important questions—and they’re best asked before the crisis arrives.

At Peak Wealth Planning, we help clients build long-term financial strategies that support aging with grace and dignity. Whether you’re exploring long-term care insurance, preparing for retirement, or simply want to protect what you’ve built –– we’re here to help.

Begin planning for the day it rains.

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About the Author

Carmen Egolf is the Marketing Director at Peak Wealth Planning. Her role primarily focuses on educating others about the importance of financial wellness for their future, while also highlighting the expertise of her colleague, Peter. He possesses a deep understanding of financial planning, which Carmen translates into digestible nuggets of knowledge. Their weekly meetings remind her of Tuesdays with Morrie but with a financial wellness twist. By applying Peter's advice to her own life, Carmen enhances her understanding of future preparedness and generates ideas for questions, blog posts, social media posts, and presentations. Ultimately, her work centers on educating others about the benefits of thoughtful financial planning.