Description: The SOA Research Institute has executed research for over twenty years on some repeating themes and topics. The reports build on each other and add content. This article summarizes and discusses a summary report on long-term care, caregiving and housing linked to long-term care and caregiving.

Description: The article provides a summary of key issues presented at the 2023 U.S. Living to 100 Symposium focused on the interests of retirement professionals and retirees. It provides an overview of the subjects covered. The discussion focused on the well-being of retirees and the development of the retirement system. It is focused on late-in-life issues and having the best life possible during that period. It balances technical and lifestyle issues, with an emphasis on mortality and longevity trends and influences. Some of the topics discussed include the impact of COVID, climate, housing, and age-friendly communities. The Elder Tech Symposium was merged into Living to 100 and includes discussion of a variety of technology approaches to improve lives and simplify support. The symposium recognized that the decisions needed and concerns during retirement are different later in life, particularly as people decline.

Description: Retirement planning generally includes a focus on decisions needed at time of retirement, but it often fails to focus on changes during retirement and additional decisions needed as people age. The 2021 SOA Risk Survey and other SOA research documents the lack of focus on future change. It is common for people to lose cognitive ability and generally to become less able to make decisions, manage their finances, their medical care and their lives at high ages.This panel focuses on communication and decision issues. The SOA has recently issued a decision guide on High Age Decisions. The brief identifies four domains for high age decisions: ·Health, health care and staying healthy ·Managing finances ·Housing and transportation ·Support networks The panel will include a discussion of communications and how we change, problems of physical, hearing, sight or cognitive decline and the challenges created and the four domains in the SOA Decision Brief.

Description: "Issues surrounding end-of-life and palliative care are not well understood and there is little research in the actuarial literature. From an actuarial perspective, however, end-of-life is important because of the significant cost to the healthcare system. Ian Duncan will discuss some of his research on the financial implications of end-of-life care, as well as the outcomes of a palliative care program. Dr. Matzo is an engaging personality with decades of experience in gerontology and palliative nursing, including training and teaching professionals in the field. Dr. Matzo focuses on educating the public on the importance and benefits of palliative care and hospice (care given in the final six months of life). In this session on “Palliative Care Public Education,” Dr. Matzo will give us an overview of the benefits of palliative care and how this knowledge empowers the individual to make important decisions about their healthcare options. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the role that the actuarial profession may play in this area."

Description: Panelists from the home-based care industry will discuss the latest technology and services that enable and prolong the receipt of formal and informal care at home for the elderly and delay transitions to care facilities.

Description: Getting people to think beyond retirement about future care needs and how they will be paid for is critical for a healthy aging plan. However, most people avoid the topic and make rushed decisions when finding long-term care services. Hear from experts in this advisory field explain what a successful plan looks like and what it takes to get people to plan ahead.

Description: "Informal caregiving is far more costly than many people realize. And not just in the immediate future. Current demographic trends suggest that caregiving will become even more necessary and costly as the Baby Boomers continue to age and require more support and services. In 2022, the SOA engaged Milliman, Inc. to conduct an analysis of the need for informal caregiving and its impacts on employees, employers, and other stakeholders. The purpose of this research was to educate stakeholders, policymakers, and other interested parties on the realm of informal caregiving, as well as how the challenges associated with providing informal care of all kinds might be addressed. Discover key findings and themes from the research project, as well as stories highlighting the various forms this role can take, and solutions currently being developed around the country. An open discussion on ways our profession can impact this growing need with the work we do every day in our respective roles will also be included."

Description: Critical factors to consider as we age include where we live, who we interact with, how we get the help and support we need when we need it, and how our health care is organized and delivered. Underlying this is how we finance the cost of specialized housing, care and support. Some communities are age-friendly where we can obtain supportive services, others are not. Some people choose to live in senior housing which integrates support services, others choose to live in the community among people of all ages. Some health care systems are well designed to meet the needs of older people, others are not. The cost of living for older adults, considering all of these factors, varies by community. Explore more about the perspective of older adults, how communities have structured to meet their needs, and how society as a whole is becoming aware of and addressing a growing aging population.

Description: Some seniors may find it challenging to manage frequent doctor visits. Telemedicine can significantly fill in some of these gaps by enabling “virtual” doctor visits. Telemedicine improves access to medical care, reduces the need for transportation, reduces wait times, protects the health of individuals who won’t be exposed to germs of others in a waiting room, and improves access to care from a healthcare professional who may be far away from the patient and more. Implications for telemedicine in charged amounts (in various insurances) are being worked out and continue to evolve.

Description: In this introductory session, we set the stage for the Symposium’s entire ElderTech track. We’ve seen increasing technology adaptation by the elderly in many areas of their lives, including socializing, health care, mobility, home monitoring, insurance, investing and financial planning. Panelists will provide an overview of the current state of ElderTech and how they believe it will evolve in the short and long term. Panelists will also discuss the problems ElderTech is trying to solve, consumer pain points and why ElderTech has become so important recently.