Real Elder Life Answers — always free
Getting older shouldn’t mean facing it alone.
Dear Old Folks is a labor of love, founded by Lou Annacone and Kay Heinig — a couple with over 80 years of life experience and a whole lot of hard-earned wisdom. We help you tailor Federal, State, County, and Private solutions to your own situation, so you can put your family back in control instead of facing a crisis alone.
What we help with
We offer a path to follow and clear suggestions for what to do next — at no cost to you, ever.
Federal, State, County & Private options
Every situation is different. Remember, Medicare does not cover long-term care — but there are IRS-approved ways to structure your finances that make eldercare more affordable and protect your assets. We help you find which programs actually apply to you.
Financial & care help
Without a plan, a single fall or accident can leave a family stressed, dependent, and broke. We help you make sense of the financial and caregiving options available, so a crisis doesn’t catch you unprepared.
Non-medical housing options
From staying at home longer to exploring alternatives, we help you understand what’s out there, plus checklists and contacts for local providers — so you and your loved ones can plan with less stress.
The “pickle in the middle” Medicaid situation
Medicaid rules are confusing by design. We break them down in plain language, using real, trustworthy resources, so you feel prepared for what’s ahead instead of caught off guard.
Real answers on the big questions
Straight talk on the decisions families face — free to read, and written from experience.
Protect Your Assets
Medicaid, the 5-year spend-down, and practical ways to protect your savings before a care crisis.
Read more →Where to Get Help
Every care option explained — home care, small care homes, assisted living, nursing homes, and the VA benefit.
Read more →Take Care of You
For the caregiver caught in the middle: the risks, the realities, and how to protect yourself too.
Read more →Advocacy for Reform
Why long-term care is broken — and how you can help push for the reform families need.
Read more →How it works
Three simple steps, at your own pace — with no pressure and no cost along the way.
You reach out
Tell us a little about your situation, or your loved one’s. There’s no wrong way to start.
We listen
We take the time to understand what you’re facing before suggesting anything. What you share with us, we promise to keep totally confidential.
You get a clear path
We lay out the steps to take next, in plain language, so you know exactly what to do.
Free weekly Zoom sessions
Bite-sized, no-pressure sessions you can join yourself or share with family — twice a week, on us.
Tuesday Topics
30-minute sessions with live Q&A. Topics range from “What Is Long Term, Elder, Custodial Care Anyway?” to “No-Cost Ways to Be Ready for a Long Term Elder Care Crisis,” sometimes with guest speakers.
Friday Gabbers
An open discussion to learn from others going through the same eldercare journey — shared problems and useful recommendations from the group.
Free guides, made easy
Practical reading you can download and share with family, at your own pace.
Where to Start
A clear overview of the Real Elder Life Answers approach, and where to begin.
Download →Aging Care Planning
A practical guide to planning ahead, before a crisis forces the decisions for you.
Download →Protecting Family Wealth
Advanced, IRS-approved ways to protect your family’s assets from the cost of long-term care.
Download →The House on Maple Street
A story that brings the eldercare journey to life — the kind of situation many families will recognize.
Download →
About Lou & Kay
Lou Annacone has been certified and appointed in eldercare and long-term care planning for over 30 years, licensed across many states, and has spoken at dozens of venues — from AAII investor chapters to military and service organizations, Humana centers, hospitals, and senior learning centers. He’s a decorated Air Force officer with Vietnam service, and past president of both his local AAII and MOAA chapters. Lou was a caregiver for his late wife for over 25 years, and learned Real Elder Life Answers the hard way.
Kay Heinig is an accomplished executive secretary and administrative assistant with more than 50 years of experience at major worldwide industries, and retired from United Airlines’ executive offices in Chicago — where she also served as a Notary Public for many years. A widow and former military wife, she’s a grandmother with one son, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, and has traveled the world many times over. As a caregiver for her terminally ill husband, she learned Real Elder Life Answers the hard way, and now draws on all of it to help other families.
Now in their eighties, Lou and Kay Heinig have become fast friends and collaborators, sharing their combined caregiving experience and eldercare know-how with seniors and families facing the same road.
We started Dear Old Folks because we didn’t want anyone to have to figure it out alone. Our goal is simple: help you make informed decisions and face this stage of life with greater peace of mind and confidence.
— Lou & Kay
Let’s figure it out together.
No fees, no jargon, no runaround — just two people who’ve survived nearly everything, happy to help you do the same.