My grandmother was a bit wild for a turn of the century gal. She was the first woman in her block to wear pants, she happily camped from here to Yosemite and she absolutely adored riding on Grandfather’s Harley Davidson. Gram survived the flu epidemic of 1918, the Great Depression, two World Wars and the early death of her adored husband. Her greatest challenge, however, was her heart… which kept beating long after anyone from her generation expected to be alive. At age 89, suffering from multiple physical problems, she became bedridden. My mother, her only child, was absolutely committed to providing her with the best of care. For the next three years, she selflessly sacrificed her own health and her retirement nest egg so that Gram had the best of care.

Grandma’s passing was a blessing for her, but only Chapter One of our on-going family’s challenges. My mother’s shattered health and finances turned my sister and me into her caregivers. We nursed her successfully through multiple battles with cancer which put our own lives temporarily on hold again and again. Then, in 2000, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. There is no cure for Parkinson’s… there was no return to our previous lives. Her need for care grew yearly, and both of us repeatedly had to choose between our careers, families and our mother. All of this did damage to our own finances, health and personal relationships. But we wouldn’t have done it any other way. She needed us and we were there. Finally, on Aug. 18 th, 2008, she mercifully was released from this world. My sister and I still grieve her loss and, at the same time, are relieved she is out of her misery.

Convinced that there was a great void in peoples understanding of what long term care is, its crushing costs and devastating consequences, I became a life and health insurance agent. I started at LTPC, the largest brokerage house for long term care insurance in the country. After a time, I realized that LTCi wasn’t always the answer. Sadly, a disturbing number of my clients could not afford long term care insurance because no one had ever professionally helped them plan for retirement. For others, their health problems precluded them from coverage. Lucky others had enough money and could get underwritten, but were better served with more sophisticated alternatives.

Carolyn Shelby

CA Insurance
Agent License #0D80695

Realizing that I had to know and offer more, I went to work at Prudential Financial in 2003. At Prudential, I became a Series 7 and 66 Registered Representative, which allowed me to expand into more sophisticated vehicles for a long term need, including annuities and universal life policies with long term care riders. In 2006, I opened up Life Happens Insurance Solutions, my own insurance company. This allowed me to be an independent insurance broker-agent, working with multiple carriers and product lines… all with the goal of helping my clients find the right choice at the right price for their needs.

Over the years, I’ve acquired the CLTC designation (Certified in Long Term Care) and am fully trained in the California Partnership for Long Term Care Program. I am also a Board Member and speaker on comprehensive long term care planning for the Parkinson’s Resource Organization. I have also served as a board member of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Lastly, I am a member of National Association of Health Underwriters.