CONTRIBUTORS

Heidi Baumstark has been writing for several lifestyle magazines and newspaper publications since 2005, specializing in history-related articles highlighting Virginia’s Piedmont. She has been with Middleburg Life since 2014. Over the years, she has featured hundreds of businesses, leaders, residents, historical sights, lectures, heritage programs, and museums in her work. Heidi hopes to inspire readers to pause and consider the people, places, and events that have shaped the story of our local history.

Michael Butcher is the owner of Butcher Photography. Originally from Christchurch, New Zealand, he resides in Springfield, Virginia, with his family. For the past 15 years, Michael has specialized in portraiture, event, and editorial photography. When not behind the lens, he enjoys gardening and swimming.

Diane Helentjaris chose Loudoun as her “forever home” in 1990 after experiencing Ohio, Michigan, Montreal, San Francisco, and New Jersey. Following years as a clinical physician and public health administrator, she returned to her humanities roots. A finalist in the 2020 Icelandic Writers Retreat, her book “The Indenture of Ivy O’Neill” comes out in June. Diane also writes a monthly newsletter, The Silk Mill, which is dedicated to those in love with fabric in all its glory.

Lia Hobel is a freelance journalist, known in town for her blog, Uplift Loudoun, which she launched during the start of the pandemic to share uplifting stories. In addition to her work for Middleburg Life, Lia writes periodically for online platforms with articles appearing on GOBankingRates, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Yahoo! Lia began her career as a broadcast journalist, but left TV news when she moved to Leesburg, Virginia, with her family. She is a Loudoun 40 Under 40 honoree and a Certified Tourism Ambassador for the county.

Dulcy Hooper and her husband Richard moved to the country from Washington, D.C., nearly ten years ago. Shortly thereafter, both began writing occasional articles for Middleburg Life. Dogs are a big part of the Hoopers’ lives and several of Dulcy’s earlier articles focused on the couple’s Chinese crested powderpuffs!

Victoria Peace is a recent graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in French and Art History. On the weekends, she frequently visits her family in The Plains. In her free time, she enjoys playing polo with Twilight Polo Club, riding with the Georgetown Equestrian Team, gardening, walking her family's dogs at Sky Meadows State Park, and visiting her retired horse, Taco. Her perfect “Hunt Country” day would include a stop at the local farmers market in The Plains, a trip to her favorite Middleburg antique stores, and a sunset trail ride in the Virginia countryside.

Callie Broaddus is a Warrenton native and graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in Architecture. After seven years as a book designer at National Geographic Kids, Callie founded the nonprofit, Reserva: The Youth Land Trust, in 2019. Callie’s land preservation projects and focus on youth empowerment are aided by her talent for storytelling through her camera lens as a professional photographer. In her spare time, Callie enjoys Earl Grey tea, Harry Potter trivia, and dreaming of getting back into the jumper ring.

Bill Kent’s journalism has appeared in more than 40 national and regional publications including the Washington Post, Art & Antiques, Philadelphia Magazine, Baltimore Magazine, New Jersey Monthly, and The Hunt. A former correspondent for the New York Times, he taught writing and journalism at the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers, and Temple universities, and is the author of seven novels, a Fodor’s Guide, and a history of Atlantic City. After graduating from Oberlin College with majors in English and Religion, he published his first piece in The Georgetowner. When not writing, he enjoys walking his westies on Washington Street.

Carlo Massimo is a reporter based in Washington, D.C., and a columnist at InformationWeek. A poet and literary translator outside work, his book-length translations of Mario Scalesi and Salvatore Mugno are due in 2024. Carlo joined Middleburg Life in April 2023.

Beth Rasin graduated from Middlebury College, where she studied nonfiction creative writing. She worked as a writer and editor at The Chronicle of the Horse for more than 25 years, including 10 years as the president and executive editor. As a freelancer, she’s contributed since 2015 to Middleburg Life, as well as Northern Virginia magazine, Blue Ridge Outdoors, the former Loudoun magazine, and many others. She lives in Hume, where she and her husband and daughter run a boarding facility for retired horses. She enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with her many adopted dogs and cats.

Will Thompson is a writer and photographer interested in all things related to nature, conservation, and outdoor recreation. He has worked in communications and project management roles in renewable energy, international development, and mission-driven journalism. Will graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a B.A. in Communications.

Gracie Withers is a local photographer who grew up in the village of Aldie and has been photographing local weddings, portraits, and events since 2016. She was a contributing photographer at Georgetown University for over three years and also has a wide variety of experience in sports photography. Her passion began when she received her first camera in middle school and she continued to study the craft in high school and in college. She joined Middleburg Life as a contributor in the spring of 2022.

Staggering. That’s the word we see most when describing the cost of long-term care. Here are some numbers to give you an idea: By plugging in the 20117 zip code in the Genworth Cost of Care Tool, the monthly range of coverage starting with in-home care is $5,664, an assisted living facility is $6,310, and a private room in a nursing home is $13,844. So yes, staggering is an apt word to use.

Americans turning 65 today have a 52% chance of needing long-term care services yet less than 5% of Americans have any coverage or plan in place.

Now if you are like a lot of people, you are filing this statistic under the heading of “WARNING-SCARY-MORTALITY-IGNORE” and we don’t blame you. It is unsettling.

The good news is there are solutions for care in your dotage. Below are a few options which can be tailored specifically to your unique situation be it a true need for long-term care, legacy planning, asset protection or a combination of these.

1.) The Traditional Long-Term care coverage approach is probably what most folks are familiar with. It can be likened to car insurance or term life insurance. You pay an annual fee for a certain amount of coverage in the future. In the past, carriers have woefully underestimated care costs resulting in annual premiums increasing more than expected. This has given long-term care coverage a bad rap (and rightfully so). Fortunately, LTC companies seem to have a better handle on pricing future care costs than they did in prior years. The drawback here is if you never use it, you lose it.

2.) Asset based Long-Term Care is a form of hybrid long-term care insurance which is comprised of a cash value asset and has a life insurance death benefit rider. You may fund this type of option with either a single upfront premium payment or with scheduled annual premiums. At the very start of your policy, the premium you have paid into the policy becomes your long-term care benefit pool and provides an initial significantly increased monthly benefit. If you never use the long-term care benefit on these policies, your loved ones are still entitled to an income tax free death benefit which is typically equal to or more than the premium paid. You may also access the cash value in the policy should you need it or decide not to continue with the policy (surrender charges may apply). The focus with this solution is long-term care coverage with the life insurance as an added perk.

3.) Life Insurance with a Long-Term Care Rider is a permanent cash value life insurance policy with a rider that allows you to pull a certain amount from the death benefit to cover long-term care costs. This is a versatile solution in that it forces you to build cash value within the policy, provides income tax free death benefit, and long-term care. This is a great option for someone who wishes to leave a legacy behind for their children or for a charity while at the same time protecting their other assets from care costs.

Let’s be very clear. The above descriptions of these long-term care solutions are scratching the surface. There are so many considerations when you are thinking about long-term care insurance. Is it a cash indemnity policy? Is there inflation protection? Can family members get reimbursed for care? Can I pay out of my HSA account and do I get a tax deduction? The list goes on and it’s crucial that you work with someone who carefully considers your situation and these specific questions.

Eldercare is becoming a crisis in the United States as our boomers age. While places like Westminster Canterbury or Orchard Ridge are really great options, they often have long waiting lists and at the end of the day, they are not your home. The majority of elders would prefer to remain in their homes if that is an option. If you can’t self-insure, these new solutions are worth having a conversation about and learning how one might help you and your family.