Make a Plan
Better decisions come from knowing the facts and options.
Here’s a big surprise — every day, each of us gets a little bit older. We don’t want to face it, but time is a thief who steals pieces of you as he passes. One of these days, he’ll take that piece that changes everything. We all know it, but we don’t want to talk about it.
Some of us are fortunate. We have a spouse or children who will step in when we fall, either literally or figuratively. Without planning, it will be harder for them, and they’ll not likely have the best options. It is even more important to make plans if you live alone or your children live out of state.
In my case, I stepped in when my mother could no longer live alone, and my brother did the same for my dad (they had separated). Both had their awareness and could participate in the decisions we needed to navigate. But for others who are alone, they just disappear. There is little that a concerned friend can do once someone becomes incapacitated.
While discussing this topic with a friend, she called my attention to an AARP article, A Plan to Care. I opened the link and read the first few sentences. My eyes glazed over. Like everyone else, I didn’t want to read it. But I was a motivated reader and finished the article. This article contains a five-step plan. It will make a significant impact on your life or the life of a loved one. The biggest problem is to get beyond the ostrich approach to this important task.
There is an abundance of resources available online. Senior centers are another place to get information. Massachusetts has several organizations that help people based on the town or city they live in, Aging Services Access Points (ASAP). Most programs need forms to be completed and processed, which is one reason not to wait for problems to develop. Better decisions come from knowing the facts and options. And better results are obtained when there is enough time for the processes to complete.
Of course, there is the other option. Do not get any older and live forever. Doesn’t that sound like the better answer?
