If you want to catch up with this posting, go back and read the last one because this is, as the title cleverly suggests, Part II.

A few months later Mom, in a lucid moment comes to the realization that her house is falling apart all around her and that there is no way she can live alone anymore.  So Beverly puts her job on hold (again) hops in her truck and drives back to California.

Once in California, she shuts down the house, turns out the lights, and puts the house up for sale.  Then they loaded up the truck and moved to Beverlyyyyyyyyyyy's, house that is.  No swimming pools. No movie stars.

My friend called me a few days ago and advised me she was moving Mom into an assisted living place called Shady Acres.  At that point I suggested, as a way to save some serious cash, that she move Mom to the far more environmentally friendly "Shady Grady Acres."  Shady Grady Acres provides comfortable living in my kids tree house, located in the woods behind my house.  It's easily accessible by either ladder or zip line.  My kids could look in on her and take her food.  It would be cozy "assisted living."  And cheap.

Of course an 82 year old woman living in a tree house is preposterous.  What's not preposterous is planning for one's own future and particularly for such time that we might need at long term care (LTC).  Here's where this whole thing ties back to your Health Savings Account (HSA).  One of the benefits of HSAs is that while you can NOT pay your High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) premiums from your HSA, you CAN pay for Long Term Health Care premiums.  And, of course, because your HSA is funded either pre-tax or is tax deductible depending on how your Health Savings Account (HSA) is funded, payments of LTC premiums from your HSA is tax smart.

Of course the purchase of long term care insurance is a personal decision and should be made with a full understanding of one's finances, and with careful planning.  A good insurance agent can help you find a good plan and help you understand the benefits of long term care insurance.  Give it some thought.