A key aspect of the “Aging Well” philosophy is to think about, confront, discuss and plan for old age and our own impending death. Doing so provides peace of mind, an essential clarity in our lives, and clears the way to live and celebrate each day to the fullest!

We all plan for  events of importance and goals we have set. Education. Marriage. Children. A Home. That dream vacation. Retirement. However, many of us are reluctant to think about or plan for the last chapters of our lives. We are uncomfortable to think about, confront, discuss or plan for old age, and our own impending death.

 

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”      Abraham Lincoln

 

No two individuals are alike. The needs of each individual and each couple are different. However, there are several common themes and questions that everyone needs to consider:

What’s important to me? What do I value? Will I be financially secure after I retire? Where do I want to live? Whom do I want to be with? What do I want to do? How will I move around as I get older? How will I be cared for in the event I am unable to care for myself? What do I want to leave behind for my loved ones? Do my loved ones know what’s important for me? Who will speak for me in the event that I am unable to speak for myself? Do they know and understand my wishes? How should I tell them?

You will find  information below to help you think about, address and plang for your future.

 

What’s Important to You? Clarify Your Values In his best selling book Old Age, A Beginner’s Guide, Michael Kinsley observes: “What you actually ...
The US Department of Health & Human Service’s National Institute of Aging is focused on “research activities dedicated to understanding the ...
Libraries have shelves full of books on financial and tax planning.  You can pull up hundreds of articles and solicitations ...
In his 2011 article in Forbes, Bernard Krooks says: “Senior citizens should be enjoying their golden years with their loved ...
You are certain to encounter a maze of information (and misinformation!) about Social Security Benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social ...
A booklet published by the US Department of Health & Human Services titled “Housing Options for Older Adults: A guide ...
The organization Transportation for America, an “alliance of elected, business and civic leaders from communities across the country, united to ...
What is a Personal Care Plan? It provides details about your health, your lifestyle preferences and the options you would ...
The State of California Office of the Attorney General provides a very nice discussion on end of life care planning: “We plan for ...
How does one broach the topic of one’s own death? How does one have the essential conversation? Each one of ...
What is an Advance Health Care Directive?  It is a formal way to write down and document your wishes about ...