Bette Dedrick — A Caring Life
Ask Bette (pronounced "Bet") what she's been doing for more than 30 years, and she would give you a simple answer — she's in the business of caring about people. In 25 years as a registered nurse, she cared for and helped physically rehabilitate thousands of people.
Working in various fields of nursing — from private duty to VA hospitals to runnning a rehabilitation unit in a large metropolitan area — Bette has seen it all. "These experiences change a person — you see what Medicare and Medicaid does and does not cover — you see the physical and emotional toll on both the patient and the family. Expenses mount, stress mounts, retirement plans go out the window as a family struggles to meet the needs of the patient and sees their hard-earned savings depleted or gone."
Bette felt she had to do something to educate and assist people in planning for long term health care needs. Long Term Care Associates, LLC was born. "My goal is simple. I want to be a guide for my clients, preparing them for whatever the future brings - to help bring them a sense of real security and peace of mind."
Using her skill as a Registered Nurse, Certified Case Manager, and further education in the financial professional field, she is now a licensed insurance broker specializing in Long Term Care insurance. She is a strong advocate for seniors' rights and has worked for legislation and reforms on both state and federal levels.
Bette is very active in the community. She served for over ten years on the Leadership Council of the Alzheimer's Association, is a regular participant in the Professional Business Women's Network, a member of the U of O Center for Women's Studies, and a supporter of Volunteers in Medicine, Meals on Wheels, and many other community organizations.
She loves to spend time outdoors and enjoys her acreage out of town. With six grandkids from ages 10 to 17, she's also a "regular" at their various sports events and has an annual camping trip when all the cousins get together for a fun time! She is also an avid traveler and loves to take off on an adventure when the opportunity presents itself.
Contact Bette: 541-338-8683 — bette@jteam.com
Aren't We Covered?
Many people mistakenly believe their long-term care needs are already covered. However, long-term care assistance isn’t typically paid for by health or disability insurance.
In addition, government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid aren’t designed to cover long-term costs over long periods of time. It's important to consider how you would pay for care if the need arises.
Medicare is the federal program providing hospital and medical insurance to people ages 65 or older, as well as to certain ill or disabled persons. In only certain conditions are benefits available for home health care. Generally, Medicare may pay for up to 100 days of care in a skilled nursing facility per benefit period – 100% for the first 20 days (after a three-day hospital stay, if skilled care is needed). From days 21-100, Medicare requires a co-payment. After 100 days, Medicare pays nothing for skilled care, no matter where it is delivered.
Personal income and assets, including your home, must often be used to cover the cost of long-term care, which can have a catastrophic effect on savings.
Family members often have to assume the burden of care, which over time will have a detrimental impact on their lifestyle, personal and work commitments, and their physical and emotional well-being.