FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Belen Hickman
ACSIA Partners LLC
belen.hickman@acsiapartners.com
404-245-2444

Belen Hickman with Long-Term Care Insurance Leader ACSIA Partners LLC Targets Alzheimer's, an Illness That Affects Millions

The company's annual conference and "Wiggin' Out" event will focus on dealing with Alzheimer's through long-term care planning

Marietta, GA December 28, 2015 – Leading national long-term care insurance agency ACSIA Partners LLC is joining the fight against Alzheimer's disease, a mind-robbing neurodegenerative illness which affects over 5 million Americans. So says Belen Hickman, Marietta-based agent with the company.

ACSIA Partners LLC will unveil its Alzheimer's battle plan at their annual company conference, to be held this year in Austin, Texas, January 15 through 17. The company will also host an affiliated fund-raising event supporting the Alzheimer’s Association.

Why the concern?

According to data supplied by the Alzheimer’s Association --

• Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia afflict one in nine Americans age 65 and older, and one in three age 85 and older.
• It kills more than prostate cancer and breast cancer combined.
• It's the only disease among the top ten causes of death in America that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.
• From 2000 to 2013, while death from other diseases decreased, death attributed to Alzheimer's increased by 71%.

In addition, Alzheimer’s is a leading reason people need long-term care. About one in four long-term care insurance claims are due to Alzheimer's, according to the Society of Actuaries. As 77 million Baby Boomers age, millions of families will have to provide long-term care personally or pay others to do it.

"Alzheimer’s is an out-of-control epidemic and we need to face that," says Hickman. "It’s tragic for victims and disruptive for their families. Why? Because it’s a progressive disease that triggers the need for care as symptoms worsen."

At some point, people with Alzheimer’s may forget to eat, or have trouble bathing or toileting. Someone will have to help them, which is where advanced planning can help.

Hickman views the company’s role as primarily educational. "We help people assess their risk and plan accordingly. If long-term care insurance makes sense for them, we help them choose the right carrier and policy."

The company’s three-day conference will brief its agents on how best to help clients address the Alzheimer’s issue. Keynote speeches will be made by Brett Cullen and Erich Hover, co-producers of "It Snows all The Time," a feature film about Alzheimer’s, submitted to the Sundance Film Festival. The two also play lead roles in the film.

In 1983, Cullen was cast as Bob Cleary in the blockbuster miniseries "The Thorn Birds," leading to a string of TV credits including "Falcon Crest," "Criminal Minds," and "Person of Interest." On the silver screen he has starred in films including "Apollo 13," "The Dark Knight Rises," "42" and "The Guilt Trip" with Barbra Streisand.

Hover has his first movie break acting alongside Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Moneyball." His experience with Alzheimer’s in his family motivated him to co-produce "It Snows All the Time" and immerse in the lead role of Jesse.

On January 16, the fund-raising event "Wiggin’ Out" will be held in a local Austin performance space. The company’s 150-plus agents, normally serious, will mingle wearing wigs of purple (the color symbolizing Alzheimer’s) to call attention to the mounting crisis. Proceeds from ACSIA Partners LLC and sponsoring carriers will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Belen Hickman is a leading long-term care agent serving consumers and organizations in AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA. "We’re glad to help them find the best, most affordable solution for their situation," Hickman says. "In addition to long-term care insurance, today's options range from critical illness insurance to annuities and life insurance with LTC riders."

Information is available from Hickman at belen.hickman@acsiapartners.com, http://BelenHickman.acsiapartners.com or 404-245-2444.

In California the company is known as xACSIA Partners Insurance Agency; in other states, as ACSIA Partners.

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