Hello baby boomers! This month’s blog is dedicated to you. Why? Because it could help make your life less stressful and much more peaceful by understanding the importance of an aging plan – for you and possibly the senior loved one you’re supporting in some way right now.
Its fascinating that most of our boomer peers have a retirement plan detailed down to the penny, along with a perfectly timed exit strategy. Trust and estate plans are buttoned up and good to go too.
Medicare and long-term health insurance? They’re on it. But when we ask our family and friends this question, “What’s your aging plan?” we get almost no response. Crickets. That deer in headlights kind of look. Or we get this answer. A lot.
“Well, I’m not going to live in an assisted living facility. That’s for sure!” Or, “I’ll just hire someone to take care of me. No problem.”
But, as we know, life doesn’t always work out that way. A health crisis hits us out of the blue. An elderly person falls and breaks a hip. Dementia seeps in over time. Cancer comes back. These are scenarios we see play out every day. And that’s why you need an aging plan to be better prepared to navigate through these challenges. It’s all about finding a network of trusted resources, people, and services seniors and those taking care of them need as they age. From medical care to downsizing a home and transitioning to an assisted living setting. Finding an advocate to help you navigate the health care system. Researching legal advice for insurance coverage and other changing medical needs. It can be an overwhelming and stressful process.
That’s one of the reasons Senior Resource Connectors was created. We’re a resource networking platform designed to provide the appropriate resources to help baby boomers on the cusp of your “next chapter” of aging. And we’re here to help adult children dealing with issues related to aging parents as well.
Senior Resource Connectors co-founder Kevin Craig experienced this firsthand.
So, we want to share his story with all of you. See if you can relate.
“My sister and I didn’t plan on caring for our mother when she was in her late 80s. So, therein lies the problem – we didn’t have a plan. We’re your typical adult children caring for an elderly parent. If you also have an elderly parent, this story may sound very familiar.
We were fortunate to be raised in a nuclear family by two loving parents. I clearly remember my mother speaking to me when I was about 10 years old and asking me to please have patience with her when she was old. Fifty-plus years ago I was very confused by this request. Why would I not have patience? Today, her request makes perfect sense and continually echoes in my head as we struggle to make decisions that affect her, and our own quality of life.
Nine years ago, our mother successfully battled two forms of cancer at the same time. Our father was a great caregiver for Mom. He was, and always will be, my favorite superhero. Shortly after our mothers’ recovery from multiple surgeries and radiation therapy, our father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly. My sister and I instantaneously became our mother’s care givers.
Our father was a planner. He planned for their golden years with a solid financial strategy and left Mom financially secure. He had their affairs securely in a trust, and he even purchased his and her burial plots. The only detail he apparently didn’t consider was an aging plan. Our father was not negligent. An aging plan is clearly a contingency that is often overlooked. We never considered where Mom would live when she was no longer independent. Who will administer her medication when she can’t recall if she’s taken her meds or not? Who will take her to doctor’s appointments when she can no longer drive? Who will take notes at the doctor’s office when mom’s comprehension and memory are fading? Who will shop for her when she is no longer able to walk without assistance? And who will prepare her meals and take care of a myriad of other daily requests?
We’ve learned that not having a plan for these things means that we figure things out as we go. This equates to a lot of complex scheduling and an extra helping of stress. Who needs more stress these days? I now think back to that conversation fifty years ago regarding patience and Mom’s words suddenly become prophetic. I also flashback to wise advice from my father who told me. “When you fail to plan, you plan to fail’. Please take some free advice from two typical adult children – establish an aging plan for your parents before it’s needed. Your parents will have a higher quality of life and so will the rest of the family.” – Kevin Craig Co- Founder Senior Resource Connectors.
Kevin’s story resonates with what so many baby boomers are experiencing today with their elderly parents. May his story inspire all of you to reflect on your next steps—designing your own aging plan. And remember, Senior Resource Connectors is here for you every step of the way.
