Shownotes
For anyone interested in senior wellness and innovation, this episode is a gold mine of insights—pun intended.
Welcome to "Looking Forward Our Way," where we welcome Daniel Seltzer, executive director of Evergold at Home. Daniel shared how Evergold's Life Plan at Home program is revolutionizing the experience of aging, with wellness management and financial protection.
From the empowering use of smartwatches to personalized care coordination, Evergold is crafting a future where seniors can remain independent and financially secure.
We dissected the real challenges of senior housing and how proactive planning is key. More resources can be found here.
Top Takeaways
1. **Life Plan at Home Program**: Evergold at Home's innovative program provides an alternative for older adults to nursing homes, allowing them to live independently, manage wellness, coordinate care, and safeguard financial assets against rising healthcare costs.
2. **Building Community for Seniors**: Through monthly events, social engagements, and community-building activities like walks, museum visits, and educational events, Evergold at Home fosters a sense of belonging and combats the common issue of loneliness among aging individuals.
3. **Home Living Evaluation and Modification**: Addressing the top challenges seniors face with housing, such as necessary home modifications and maintenance, Evergold at Home assists with assessments and strategic planning for a safer living environment.
4. **The Role of Technology in Senior Care**: Evergold at Home provides smartwatches and encourages the use of digital platforms, emphasizing the positive impact and potential of technology in enhancing seniors' autonomy and emergency preparedness.
5. **Care Coordination and Cost Management**: Daniel Seltzer discusses Evergold at Home's approach to coordinating personalized care plans and handling the expenses of care through membership fees, offering lifetime cost predictability and flexible coverage options.
6. **The Necessity of Proactive Senior Planning**: The podcast highlights the crucial need for early evaluation and individualized planning for senior housing and services to prepare for future needs, rather than waiting for a health crisis to occur.
7. **Seniors and Assistive Technologies**: The conversation underscores how technologies, including smartwatches and traditional assistive devices like eyeglasses and hearing aids, can significantly enhance the quality of life for the elderly.
8. **Engaging the Next Generation in Gerontology**: Daniel Seltzer encourages students interested in gerontology to actively volunteer, seek mentorship, and join professional networks to gain valuable experience and make connections within the field.
9. **The Growing Older Adult Population**: Carol Ventresca and Daniel Seltzer discuss the demographic trends and the rising number of older adults, highlighting the increasing demand for senior services that cater to this expanding population.
10. **Empowerment through Education and Questions**: When considering Evergold at Home's services or any senior care options, potential members are urged to ask probing questions, do thorough research, and educate themselves to ensure they find a program that aligns with their needs and expectations.
Memorable Moments
00:00 BA in history, volunteer in Israel, nursing home.
04:59 Life Plan at Home program.
07:23 Home program includes wellness management, care coordination.
12:39 Membership: fixed monthly cost for care.
13:47 Program offers flexibility, 48 state mobility, refunds.
18:40 Challenges in senior housing: home modifications, cost.
21:22 Seniors can benefit from technology, debunking misconceptions.
24:51 Advice for gerontology students: volunteer, find mentor, network.
27:54 Prepare and research for effective decision-making.
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Recorded in Studio C at 511 Studios. A production of Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.
Copyright 2024 Carol Ventresca and Brett Johnson
Transcripts
We are Looking Forward Our Way from Studios C in the 511 Studios. That's in the Brewery District, just south of downtown Columbus, Ohio. Hi. This is Brett. We've had extensive conversations on the issues of housing in Central Ohio. It's critical for younger residents trying to afford rent while saving for the first home, and it's also critical for families that are growing, needing more room, but priced out of good affordable homes. And it's critical for older adults that may need some resources and services to stay in their home or find alternative safe housing in a congregate setting.
Carol Ventresca [:You know, Brett, we are going to discuss an alternative for older adults in our community. Our expert guest today is Daniel Seltzer, executive director of Evergold. The mission of Evergold is to provide a life plan, one that supports a senior's opportunity to live safely at home while preserving their independence and peace of mind. Daniel, thank you so much for joining us today.
Daniel Seltzer [:Hi, Carol. Thank you for inviting me to be on the podcast.
Brett Johnson [:Before we begin, on Evergold, could you talk about your journey in your chosen field of gerontology? We've found over the time that, it that's not necessarily a first choice of of the field, but once you get into it people love it. So tell us about your professional background and experiences and the steps you've taken that that's led you to Evergold.
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure. I received my, bachelor's of arts in history from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. After I finished college, I decided to spend a year abroad as a volunteer in Israel. And that is where I really discovered my passion for working with older adults. I was placed in an adult daycare center to assist with their dining and activities. So after I came back to New Orleans after the year, I started off in the nursing home world as an activity director and made my way to other departments until the summer of 2,005 when a little hurricane named Katrina came towards New Orleans, and I evacuated with the nursing home. It is a very long story and could take up an entire another podcast, but I ended up in Dallas after all of our residents were relocated to safe locations. Our nursing home was destroyed, so I decided to stay in Texas with my now wife, and I switched careers to the banking industry.
Daniel Seltzer [:After about 6 years of the bank, I realized that I really miss working with older adults. And I went back to school, and I got my master's degree in gerontology from the University of North Texas, and then became a licensed nursing home administrator. Are you following me?
Brett Johnson [:I got it. Yeah.
Daniel Seltzer [:We now had 3 kids at this point and decided to go back to Louisiana where I worked for Sunrise Senior Living as an executive director. We moved to Columbus in the winter of 2018 for my son, and I most recently worked as an executive director of an assisted living facility before coming to Evergold last year. Evergold is different from traditional senior living. Too many times Looking in traditional senior living, I saw people get to a point where they did not have any control over their decision. I was most excited about Evergold's mission to help older adults while they are healthy be in control of how they want to age in place.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. So you had to leave the country basically to find yourself.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes. Yep. Went to the holy land.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. But, you know, too, we've heard this more often than not. When somebody actually is somehow affected, either knowing someone who's older, taking care of someone who's older, having an experience when they've been older, that's when they become so enmeshed in using that going on that path for a career path. We also have another podcast and we'll probably have to add this to our show notes, from, Ohio State University's, Medical Center Office of Gerontology and Geriatrics. And we talked about the profession and how to get young people into the profession. So this is marvelous because you really started out much younger than many of us do looking at issues for older adults. So that's great.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. So Yeah.
Carol Ventresca [:Wonderful. Okay. So let's get down to the business that we're gonna talk about, this new model. Daniel, many of us have heard terms like continuity of care or aging in place. Each model of housing brings many challenges such as financial hardship for the individual as well as a lack of staffing for many employers in this industry. Evergold has created a very unique model that focuses on lifelong independence and becoming a member of the organization to best use and take advantage of the benefits of the organization. Let's first have an overview of the company and the mission and its goals.
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure. EverGrow's core offering is what's called a Life Plan at Home program. It's for healthy older adults who want to stay healthier longer, live independently at home for life, and protect their financial assets from the rising cost of care. Life plan at home programs, also known as continuing care at home or continuing care without walls, have actually been around for about 40 years and have effectively helped thousands of older Americans keep living in their homes they love. Just about all the other 40 plus programs out there are connected to senior living companies and quite limited geographically, which has resulted in most never hearing about about them, including most people like myself who have worked in the industry for years. With the amazing results these programs have shown, we decided to launch Evergold independent of a senior living facility and instead partner with tens of locals and national providers to give our members choice in where they live, how they live, and the care they receive. Our program is a lifelong membership with the same mission, the same goal as our members, helping them live healthy and independent whenever and wherever they may want to call home.
Carol Ventresca [:Daniel, I think you mentioned to me when we were talking on the phone that it was you or the person who founded Evergold, had a personal experience, because a lot of us have had these issues.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes.
Carol Ventresca [:And we've had to wrestle with how do you deal with, congregate Looking, what type, what is what are the benefits that or the services that are needed in different locations?
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes. Absolutely. The the founder, he, his grandfather had gone through the senior living process, and that prompted him to look for alternative.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. Yeah. Great.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. It's kind of a a seeing a problem, and I can fix that. That's gotta there's gotta be a better way of doing this. Right. Which is which is great. That's great. So as you mentioned, sounds as though it's core to to the company of, you know, trying to keep the members at home. So, you know, it sounds as though the membership service does that.
Brett Johnson [:It's at at at its Carol, at its very beginning. So can you review the services that are provided when the individual can still remain home safely?
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure. Our life plan at home program has 3 core components, wellness management, care coordination, and financial coverage. For example, a member joins when they are still healthy, and our team helps them helps you stay that way through wellness management. Each member is assigned their own wellness manager whose goal is to keep you healthy and independent. Our wellness manager covers regular check ins with your wellness manager, annual home safety assessments, access to our digital wellness platform, help navigating the health care system, referrals to trusted local partners, and an on call concierge. Our wellness director has run, the wellness piece at another program for 8 years to great success.
Carol Ventresca [:What what is normally the background of the wellness managers?
Daniel Seltzer [:They are normally a social worker or a nurse.
Carol Ventresca [:Okay.
Daniel Seltzer [:So if your health was to change in any way and you needed assistance to keep living at home, we would assist you in finding care through care coordination, working with the local partners mentioned earlier to to to deliver great care and optionality. And finally, unlike Medicare, we would also pay for the care with your membership fees that you that you gave us.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. So so you're helping people best utilize and get the most out of their money.
Daniel Seltzer [:Exactly.
Carol Ventresca [:Okay. So, Daniel, then this model also supports individuals through their transitions. Members may not be able to stay at home or need other services. And as their needs change, how does the Evergold wellness manager work with those individuals and their family or guardians to navigate those through those transitions and level of care needs?
Daniel Seltzer [:Yeah. The wellness manager, creates a personalized plan based on the member's needs when the member joins. If a member's health changes, the wellness manager will help the member navigate these new needs. This would include coordinating and monitoring home care implementation while using our vetted providers that will provide that home care. The wellness manager would also assist the member in obtaining home modifications and or medical equipment via private pay if needed.
Brett Johnson [:So if a client and their family determine they can no longer live at home and I'm assuming you have this conversation with the Carol, that it obviously makes a little bit easier when everybody's sitting at the table. What steps can you take to assist in finding that new housing option? I mean and and do they remain your client receiving services once that's kind
Daniel Seltzer [:of done? Sure. So our goal is to keep you healthy and at home for life. However, there are some times when it is determined by the member with guidance from their wellness manager that it is no longer safe to stay at home. Your wellness manager would assist you in the process of locating a proper community to meet your needs. Knowing all the ins and outs of the senior living industry here in Columbus, your wellness manager would help you make a strong decision on the best place that fits your need. So, historically, less than 5% of life plan members have had to move to assisted living, generally driven by cognitive issues. So the life plan at home model is quite effective at keeping people independent.
Brett Johnson [:So that's gonna take in consideration the health such health situation, group
Daniel Seltzer [:manager would attend, a member for life. So the wellness manager would attend their care conference and attend care conferences and would continue to to be an advocate for for for you. The member would continue to receive all the other services of being a member.
Carol Ventresca [:You know, one of the things that has come up in my world with my peers who are aging, many have kids. But even those who have family members, they may not live in town. I don't have kids, so I'm gonna be very dependent on somebody making helping me make decisions. So this really takes care of a population of people who have not had good, reliable assistance. If you don't have a family member, you can't, you know, you just can't expect your neighbor who's probably also 80 to take care of you and your issues. And so this is a really good alternative. So, Daniel, as, we mentioned earlier, you you've started telling us about this membership organization. So this is really different.
Carol Ventresca [:It's not just continuity of care in one location. This is a membership organization where, you know, the it's a it's a bigger bigger array of places to look at. Let's discuss the impact of a financial commitment with Evergold, what guarantees can you provide, and what happens if they move out of your service area, which is a new Johnson, or why is this a new Johnson, a good alternative to housing, opportunities that are already here in our community? This is a whole new ballgame for us.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yeah. So to sum it up, becoming an Evergold member is an investment in your and your family's future. By joining Evergold while you're healthy, you're both enabling your savings to go further if you ever need care and creating a lifetime predictability about how much you will need to spend on care. You join when you're healthy and pay a tax deductible onetime membership fee. In return for this membership fee, you would only have to pay a fixed monthly cost of about less than about $500 a month no matter how much care you ultimately need. Our coverage goes up to about $10,850 per month, which means you could be paying less than $500 per month to get over $10,000 in care. We offer many different levels of coverage. But if you were to sign up for our highest level of coverage, which pays for the cost of being in a nursing home, since the monthly fee stays consistent, you quite you could quite accurately project how much care would cost for the rest of your life, which means you also know how much money you have left for everything else in your life.
Daniel Seltzer [:Unlike many options, our program also offers a lot of flexibility in the case someone changes their mind, something we hope will lessen people's questions while considering joining. If you decide to move out of the Columbus area to any of the 48 contagious US states, your program membership travels with you. We only ask that you give us a 30 day notice so we can plan accordingly. If you ultimately decide you want to move to a traditional continuing care retirement community, we'll Brett refund you 80% of your membership to fee to pay that community. And lastly, if you decide after joining that the program isn't for you, the onetime membership fee is fully refundable for the 1st 6 months and partially refundable for up to 4 years, giving you plenty of time to make sure you are comfortable with your decision.
Carol Ventresca [:This is an this is really amazing because so many times Way have heard, a couple of messages. 1, buying into continuity of care is hugely expensive that most folks there are very, very few who could afford it. But the other part of the of the coin is how many times do you hear someone Way, well, you're getting ready to retire so you better start putting your budget together and figure out how much you're gonna need because you don't wanna retire till you know you got that money and blah blah blah. And who in the world can project medical costs in today's age? It's almost impossible.
Daniel Seltzer [:Mhmm. That is correct.
Carol Ventresca [:And so this really does give you a step up in that particular, planning part of the planning process. So okay. Wonderful.
Brett Johnson [:So you're also doing some community building. I mean, you you've devised some opportunities for clients to attend activities together, socialize. Can you give us some examples of these additional services included in the membership building community?
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes. Absolutely. This is something I really enjoy talking about. We are trying to build a community of older adults who all share the same goal, to stay healthy and independent. Socializing and engagement are a big piece of that. For example, we hosted a, we host educational Ventresca, monthly, and, we've already hosted 1 on the blue zones and travel. Have you heard of the blue zones? No. No.
Daniel Seltzer [:So the blue zones are 5 unique communities around the world where people live extraordinarily long and vibrant lives. There's actually a documentary on Netflix about it.
Carol Ventresca [:Yeah. Isn't there one in Italy? Mhmm. Yeah. That's where I'm gonna retire to. Yes.
Brett Johnson [:So old right there.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes. Exactly. Our Blue Zones educational event featured a dietitian and chef that we partner with who provided their take on the Blue Zone diet and a cooking demonstration. Another example is that all of our member members receive reimbursement to join their local gym. Many of these rec centers host senior focused programming within them. We have partnered with numerous rec centers and encourage our members to participate in their programming. And a third example of the additional services that is included in their membership is a smartwatch. All of our members are given the option of having an Apple or Android smartwatch purchased for them when they join.
Daniel Seltzer [:Nice.
Brett Johnson [:I like that. That that that's that's another incentive to be around people like you
Daniel Seltzer [:Mhmm.
Brett Johnson [:That share your common interest and and your well you know as we grow older we start to lose people in our lives.
Carol Ventresca [:Mhmm.
Brett Johnson [:And it's a nice incentive to go Way I'm I'm getting my people back.
Carol Ventresca [:Well, and you know, we have a really strong, rec center programs here in Ventresca Ohio. And I'm gonna give a shout out to the Grandview Rec Center. They do a phenomenal job. I have a cousin in her nineties who's there nearly every day of the week. But that has to help those centers too.
Daniel Seltzer [:Oh, yeah.
Carol Ventresca [:Because you're bringing you're you're convincing people to go Yes. Who can use those services. Yes. Do you, are there other kinds of activities that you're doing, like parties and things like that?
Daniel Seltzer [:Yeah. So we also, again, socialization is very important. So we also are, we do monthly, events. One thing that I enjoy doing is walking. So, I do walks with with our members, and also Way do other events where we go to the go to the museum of art, those types of things as well.
Carol Ventresca [:So, Daniel, there are many challenges that seniors face today in their health needs and the effects on those living arrangements that they have made or trying to make. Family members are not always able to find those the information and the resources that they need. What do you see as the top challenges that we are facing in senior housing today?
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure. So among other things, 2 top challenges we are facing in senior housing today are home modifications and upkeep of homes. Older adults want to age in place and stay in their homes. However, many of the homes we live in were not made for this, including my house that's about a 100 years old. Some of the modifications are simple, such as adding grab bars, as you mentioned before, in the bathroom. But some require extensive renovations such as making a main bedroom on the 1st floor with a full bathroom remodel. Part of Evergold's yearly member assessment is to evaluate evaluate your home environment, make recommendations for modifications, and connect members with appropriate resources for them to purchase these products. Also, the cost of care is creating a housing problem.
Daniel Seltzer [:Older adults own a good portion of the homes in the US. According to a startling report, The Forgotten Middle, most seniors have assets tied up in homes, and they would have to sell their homes to be able to afford to pay for the cost of care. Evergold helps to proactively avoid this by putting a plan in place that is lower in cost and keeps the cost consistent.
Carol Ventresca [:You know, this this whole notion of evaluating homes, I went through that when I was taking care of my parents, and that is critical. I would not have known not only just to get grab bars but who can install them for me so they don't fall off the wall. When my parents bought their ranch, their the my mother I can remember my mom saying, we have one step. It's not gonna be a problem here. We as we get older, it's not gonna be a problem. You would be amazed at how that one step was an issue.
Daniel Seltzer [:Mhmm.
Carol Ventresca [:And and you just don't know what's going to happen and what the needs are going to be. So it is that evaluation on the homes, is that done early on in this membership?
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes.
Carol Ventresca [:You're you're doing that right away so people have an idea for future planning.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yeah. It's done within the 1st week or 2 of them becoming
Carol Ventresca [:members. Cool.
Daniel Seltzer [:And then it's done yearly. Oh. If if they if they Way it yearly.
Carol Ventresca [:Oh, that's okay.
Daniel Seltzer [:Forward change in condition. Mhmm. You know, something happens and they change, then we would go in there and assess.
Carol Ventresca [:Great. Great. That that's wonderful. Okay.
Brett Johnson [:So technology's been of special interest to you, but the challenges in technology can be insurmountable for seniors. They just feel like they're going to break the Internet. They're gonna break the tool that they have, you know, you know, and which again, we know what that's. We think it's silly, but that's what they think. So and it's not just social media, but technology in general could answer a critical need, but not be available. Could you talk about the your findings in this area?
Daniel Seltzer [:So the most important thing that I have found on this subject is that technology does not need to be insurmountable for seniors. There's a misconception that older adults cannot use technology, are not or are not using technology, and this is not accurate. For example, according to a recent ARP study, adults that are 50 and older are using technology at almost the same rate as adults 18 to 49. The goal of a presentation that I created for older adults is for older adults to realize that the use of technology is not such a foreign concept to them and that the benefits of using technology far outweigh the risk. For example, as mentioned earlier, all of our members at Evergold have the choice to have a smartwatch purchased for them when they become a member. These watches can alert an emergency contact and call 911 when a member falls. Mhmm.
Brett Johnson [:So it replaces at help I've I've fallen down syndrome. I mean, I I remember, my wife's bomb, in the in the complex that she lived in. They had those bracelets or you know the
Carol Ventresca [:the the It's like a lanyard.
Brett Johnson [:Lanyard kind of thing. She wouldn't wear the darn thing. Mhmm. She just would not wear it and I I don't think we ever really figured out why and she fell down one time and it was pretty serious and we kind of said to her you've been wearing it it you know they could have come to you quicker you know than in in such but it's like but that's great that you know you can kind of train the technology to kind of go you don't
Carol Ventresca [:have to worry about that. It's on your watch. But but, you know, I don't I can't tell you how many people I've talked to who are supposed to wear those who always said those lanyards are uncomfortable. You know, it's and it's because it you guys normally have collars
Daniel Seltzer [:Yeah.
Carol Ventresca [:And it can go under your collar. But women's, you know, it's it's hanging on their neck. Which makes
Brett Johnson [:sense too. Sure.
Carol Ventresca [:Right.
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure.
Carol Ventresca [:But but the technology, you know, when when I was the director of a nonprofit and people, employers would tell me, well, you know, seniors don't know technology, my response was seniors built the internet in this country and, we know more about the Internet. We've forgotten more about the Internet than you know about the Internet. We learn it differently, But how many seniors do you see doing texts on their phones? How many of us wear smartwatches already? It it's not that we can't do it, but we also have to have someone who's not 16 explain it to us in such a way that we can hear it and we understand what they're saying and it's not in, you know, kinda gobbledygook. So yeah. Absolutely. You also think of technology outside of electronic technology too. Mhmm. A grab bar is basically
Daniel Seltzer [:Yes.
Carol Ventresca [:Technology.
Daniel Seltzer [:Yep.
Carol Ventresca [:It's not, a it's not an Internet.
Daniel Seltzer [:Eyeglasses are Hearing aids. Yeah. Are all assistive technologies.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. Right. So so it it it's a bigger issue that Evergold can assist clients with those kinds of things. Brett. Alright. Okay, Daniel. So one topic that we often bring up into our podcast discussions is the need for more individuals interested in and willing to work in the senior services industries. What is your advice to students thinking about gerontology or a job seeker of any age who is looking for a career opportunity in in senior services?
Daniel Seltzer [:I have a few things that I can think of that I would advise a student thinking about gerontology or looking for a career in the field. One would be to volunteer either at a senior living community or a senior organization to see if it's something they truly enjoy. The second would be to find a Ventresca. Someone who has has or works with older adults to be able to learn what it is like working professionally in the field. And 3rd would be to join would be to join a gerontology group, such as the Franklin count Franklin task force on aging to be able to make professional connections.
Carol Ventresca [:You know, we tell we tell our young folks to, you know, shadow a teacher if they wanna be a teacher, shadow a nurse if they want to be a nurse, why wouldn't we want them to shadow somebody who is doing the kind of job that they're interested in? You know, the other part of that too, I always would tell folks, so you're an accountant. You can be an accountant in any industry. Think about being an accountant in an industry that is growing, that is going to continue to grow for a long time.
Daniel Seltzer [:Mhmm. Absolutely. I think this was actually mentioned on one of your other pod podcasts, but the amount of people that are gonna be over the age of 65. Right? Right. In 2,034 are gonna is going to be higher than the amount of people under the age of 18 for the first time in the history of our country.
Carol Ventresca [:Exactly.
Daniel Seltzer [:So it it it older adults are not going anywhere.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. No. Right. 2030, I think, o Ohio is, it's predicted to have at least 20% of the population of every county
Brett Johnson [:Mhmm.
Carol Ventresca [:Will be 60 and over. And so that you're looking at maybe a quarter to half of your population being over 60, a quarter or so of your population being under 18
Daniel Seltzer [:Mhmm.
Carol Ventresca [:And those in between supporting everybody. So this is a, as I said, a growing
Brett Johnson [:How should they prepare to interview you? Let's put it that way. You know, good questions that they should come up with to ask themselves as well as ask Evergold when they start the process of going, is this for me? But, you know, I'm sure there are key questions that always come up when when when people are discussing it. But Way what would be good questions to ask?
Daniel Seltzer [:So for someone to become a member of Evergold?
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. Yeah.
Daniel Seltzer [:I I think some of the questions one of the things I really like about Evergold, it's proactive versus reactive. Mhmm. So, and the which means the process actually can take a little bit longer. Right? So, in traditional, you know, we don't you know, in traditional senior living, many times people had to make a very quick decision
Carol Ventresca [:Right.
Daniel Seltzer [:To to move into into a community. So I think the the nice thing about this is that you really have time to ask all those questions and make sure it's a good fit for you.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. Good.
Carol Ventresca [:Good. You know, I think the other thing too that when I started reading the information you sent me about Evergold is that Johnson, and we use this in almost every discussion we have, whether it's building a business or or whatever is to do your research and be prepared. And because you're doing that research and being prepared when you are still healthy and able to help make those decisions, you're not at someone else's whim to make those decisions for you. You can make better decisions and see a bigger picture. Do you think that when you're when people are talking to you to become a member of Ever Gold, do they come to you? Do you feel like they're already prepared and they're making those they're asking the right questions?
Daniel Seltzer [:I don't think they are. Okay. I think, education. I think that's that's, the that that's the most important thing as we as we go down this route and Way, continue to educate people, and that is really my goal. My goal is to educate people on what a life plan program is Because people don't think about their the end part of their life. Right? They don't think of the better half of their life. They they they just don't think about that. So, I I don't think they know what kind of questions to ask.
Daniel Seltzer [:So it's to help them to realize that. Everybody's needs are different. Right? Too. So we always have to keep that in mind when we're when we're meet when when we're talking to people that what may be, what something one person wants, another person may not may not need.
Carol Ventresca [:Right. And and as I said, I've I've gone through situations with, not with my parents, but other family members and friends where they kept resisting making these decisions ahead of time and then ended up someone walking in and literally sweeping them out of their home, sweeping them into a facility, and and they're completely lost, which usually, if there's an issue or a a health problem, it exacerbates it.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. So Well, as we come to an end, we always ask our guests if they have any last words of wisdom, you'd like to add. I mean, even suggestions or advice, or even resources that we haven't even talked about.
Daniel Seltzer [:Sure. So I think the the most important thing that I and I kinda answered this in just now a little bit too, is that no one has a crystal ball. So the time to plan it ahead is now. Don't wait until it's too late. All too often, I hear people saying, I'm healthy. I'll sign up for this next month or next year. But what if next month or year, you don't qualify? You don't want to get you don't wait to get home insurance until you have a fire. Why wait to protect your independence until it might be gone? Unfortunately, we had a situation recently where we had a healthy prospective member suffer a set of mini strokes while waiting and likely now won't qualify for our program.
Daniel Seltzer [:If they had signed up sooner, they would have been able to qualify and now enjoy the benefits of the program. Part of Evergold's mission for those 55 and older is to celebrate that second or better half of your life and to plan for the unexpected. Our program allows individuals to implement a plan as they age and promote their wellness along the way.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah. It's difficult to make those decisions when you're healthy. It it just is.
Daniel Seltzer [:It is.
Carol Ventresca [:It is. Well, you feel like you're pushing yourself into something that, you know, you're I mean, I remember when I was growing up every you know, all of the older grandparents and great aunts and uncles would don't put me in a nursing home. That means I'm gonna die, you know. And now that's that's not it.
Brett Johnson [:Yeah.
Carol Ventresca [:So listeners, don't forget when, you see this podcast on our website show notes, you're also going to see all the resources that are available, that you may be interested in, plus contact information for Daniel at Evergold because I think people are gonna have some questions and wanna get more information. The Evergold website gives you lots and lots of details, but I I do think they're probably gonna have other questions that we haven't answered today. Many thanks to our expert, Daniel Seltzer, executive director of Evergold, for joining us today. Listeners, thank you for joining us, and do not forget to check our show notes on the website for contact information and resources that we have discussed. You can find all of this information at looking Forward our way dot com. We are looking forward to hearing your feedback on this and any of our podcast episodes.
