If you are not exercising or are overweight, read on! And, if you're fit, there's something here for you too.

I'm a life insurance agent's worst nightmare. My children's future was covered by term life insurance until they were independent. Now I have the requisite automobile, house, business and health insurance, but other than that I believe a healthy lifestyle is my best life insurance investment. However, after coming face to face with the health care expenses incurred by my tenacious 88-year-old mother, who requires 24-hr companionship and care, I responded to a pitch to learn more about AARP long-term health care insurance.

You may be as surprised as I was to learn the criteria for determining eligibility to collect on these policies, They are an inability to perform any two of the following six daily functions:

- an inability to give yourself a sponge bath; or to bathe in either a tub or shower, including the task of getting into or out of the tub or shower.
- an inability to put on and take off all items of clothing and any necessary braces, fasteners or artificial limbs.
- an inability to get to and from, and on and off, the toilet and to perform associated personal hygiene.
- an inability to transfer yourself in and out of bed, a chair or wheelchair.
- an inability to feed yourself by transferring food from a receptacle (such as a plate, cup or table) to your mouth.
- an inability to maintain control of bowel and bladder function, or to perform associated personal hygiene (including caring for a catheter or colostomy bag).

My first response was sadness realizing that my mother is unable to manage four of the six tasks on this list on her own. My second was, "What can I do to maintain the physical skills (flexibility, coordination, strength) necessary to prolong my own self-care and maintain my independence?"

Many of us focus on the aerobic exercise that keeps our internal systems healthy and our body lean. As we age it becomes more important to add strength training and exercises that increase flexibility, coordination and balance.

If you aren't fit or if your exercise program isn't diverse, I challenge you. Explore other options. Do it this week. If not, you better buy your insurance soon.