Age well with smart, strategic planning

Let’s face it; aging is a time of transition. We transition physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. We each hope that as the transition proceeds, we “age well” and are ready to face whatever circumstance comes our way.

However, aging well can mean different things to different people.  Most of us interpret it as taking care of ourselves physically by eating a healthy diet, exercising, regular health screenings and doing what it takes to remain disease-free and out of the doctor’s office or hospital.  This is certainly one way of preparing for growing older.

But aging well can also mean having a well-thought out plan for those unexpected future events or circumstances that cannot be predicted with certainty.  In other words, those bumps in the road steering you completely off course of your life plan.  Like the saying goes, ‘you hope for the best but prepare for the worst.’  That may sound very pessimistic but if the worst ever happens, you’ll be so much better prepared and very thankful you did just that.

Here are some smart strategies to have in place making your transition into old age much smoother and less stressful not only for you but those who love you too:

·      Equip your home to grow old with you

Begin to look at your home from an elderly person’s viewpoint.  How easy is it to get into the bathtub or what happens if you can no longer climb stairs to get to your bedroom?  Equipping your home long-term by making it more safe and user-friendly for old age can greatly reduce the chance of potential hazards resulting in injuries or worse.  Do an annual safety review making necessary updates to stairs, baths, and the kitchen to make your home a safe environment.

·      Have a plan for emergencies

If an emergency comes up, would you know what to do?  As people grow older and grown children may live far away, it is wise to have a system for who you will call in an emergency, someone who checks on you daily, or what to do if you fall and can’t reach the phone.  Some suggestions might be to wear at all times a device around your neck to push a button that automatically dials an emergency number or installing a personal alarm system in your home to alert you to any intruders.

·      Reduce the risk of falls

One of the biggest threats to elderly people is the risk of falling.  A fall can lead to fractures or a head injury resulting in disability or even death.  Now is the time to practice exercises that can improve balance and strength lessening the likelihood of a fall. 

·      Buy long-term care insurance

Maybe you’ll never need it but a wise investment to consider is purchasing a long-term care insurance policy.  This type of policy will reimburse policyholders a daily amount for services to assist them with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, or eating.  There is usually a range of care options and benefits allowing you to select the services you need.  Most of these policies can be used either to hire in-home nursing care helping an elderly person to remain in their own home or they can be applied to help pay for an assisted living or long-term care facility.

·      Plan ahead for help you may need

Growing older often means you may not be able to do all the necessary chores you once were able to.   Mowing the lawn, meal preparation, housecleaning, transportation, home repair, or help with keeping up with bill payments and financial documents.  Think and look ahead as to services offered in your community assisting elderly people with these tasks so they don’t get neglected.

·      Establish advance care directives

This is a very important part of planning for the golden years that should be done decades before you reach them.  Have a living will or trust, choose a durable power of attorney for health care, or have a health care proxy who is aware of and will respect the type of medical care you would want if you become demented or too sick to voice your own wishes and decisions.