177 Hospice, Caregiving, and Long-Term Care Planning with Raymond Lavine

Mar 1, 2026

177 Hospice, Caregiving, and Long-Term Care Planning with Raymond Lavine

Host Marie Betcher, a former hospice nurse and longtime registered nurse, interviews Raymond Lavine, Raymond explains he designs long-term care plans that can help pay for caregiving either at home or in a facility, addressing the common misconception that long-term care insurance is only “nursing home insurance.” They discuss caregiver stress and the need to support caregivers with respite and practical help. Raymond outlines how long-term care policies generally work as a pool of money over a set period, often with inflation or cost-of-living features, and notes that benefits may not cover 100% of costs depending on the plan and setting. Raymond advises making incremental home modifications in advance to support aging in place and reduce falls. The episode ends with Raymond offering Zoom, phone, and in-person meetings, directing listeners to his website tools and FAQ features, and Marie encouraging listeners to subscribe and share.

00:00 Welcome + Medical Disclaimer 

00:29 Meet Your Host Marie Betcher 

00:46 Raymond Lavine’s Backstory: Army, Vietnam & Career Path

02:43 What Raymond Does: Long‑Term Care Planning Meets Hospice Reality

04:21 Caregiver Burnout: Supporting the Family, Not Just the Patient

05:50 Does Long‑Term Care Insurance Pay for In‑Home Care or Facilities?

07:28 What Hospice Covers Under Medicare (and What It Doesn’t)

11:00 How Long‑Term Care Policies Work: Pools of Money, Inflation Riders & Costs

16:08 Affordable Options When Money’s Tight: Life Settlements, Reverse Mortgages & Hybrids

20:12 Avoiding Crisis: Planning, Home Modifications & Real‑World Care Logistics

22:09 Hospice Isn’t a Daily Caregiver: Building a Care Team

https://raymondlavineofficial.com/

https://www.lavineltcins.com/

 

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Maire introduces a partnership with Suzanne Mayer RN inventor of the  cloud9caresystem.com, 
When patients remain in the same position for extended periods, they are at high risk of developing pressure injuries, commonly known as bedsores. One of the biggest challenges caregivers face is the tendency for pillows and repositioning inserts to easily dislodge during care.(Suzanne is a former guest on Episode #119)

When you order with Cloud 9 care system, please tell them you heard about them from Hospice Explained.(Thank You)

Marie's Contact
[e-mail]
www.HospiceExplained.com

 

Finding a Hospice Agency

1. You can use Medicare.gov to help find a hospice agency,

2. choose Find provider

3. Choose Hospice

4. then add your zip code

This should be a list of Hospice Agencies local to you or your loved one.