Why in the world would anyone plan for aging? Growing old will either happen or not. Isn’t it best to simply live life to the fullest and accept the inevitable aging when it occurs?
That’s the most common response I hear. The only focus you might consider in advance is financial planning. But, there is so much more.
Why? Because planning and documenting in advance of aging is the only way you have some control over what happens.
You wouldn’t go on a trip without a plan: Tickets, agenda, a place to stay, gas in the car, reservations, maybe even some research on where you’re going. Yet, for our most mysterious and complicated journey, the one that begins with age or injury, most of us are like hitchhikers on a deserted road.
We jump into a stranger’s car and, before we know it, we’re swerving around a bend toward an eighteen-wheeler and we realize our driver is drunk and the seatbelt doesn’t work, and…
Don’t be that traveler.
Instead, realize your own extraordinary aging journey can last years, even decades, with twists, turns, and surprises around every corner. Taking the time to plan is how you survey the terrain, design your own map and age your way.
If you haven’t started planning yet, you’re in good company. Our society seldom applauds life’s final act; everyone knows what’s next, so let’s all cover our eyes. But denial not only diminishes the last third of our excellent adventure in this world, it puts somebody else in the driver’s seat, a sure way to hit that oncoming truck.
We can do better. Think about how enthusiastically you prepared for other milestones: Higher education, career, parenting. We study, focus, and try to guide the course of our lives.
I’ve learned you can draw upon the same skills for the aging years with rewarding results.
A documented personal plan will leave no question about your unique wishes for both living and dying; more than that, your plan will include legal and financial information that will be essential for those who will be executing your strategy.
When shared, your written plan will provide a gift to your family, saving them from the agony of choosing for you while they fight with each other over who can better read your mind. Documentation is crucial, since, with aging or injury, there is a chance you won’t be able to verbally communicate your wishes or be actively involved with decision-making.
When that time comes, what’s in writing will serve as your voice. That’s why you need to plan for aging. The Blueprint to Age Your Way offers a welcome road map for you and for those who may have to provide assistance down the road. It leaves no stone unturned: medical, legal, personal, and financial.
Publishing in January 2017, watch for the email announcement when you can pre-order this remarkable guide. In the meantime, get a free copy of the Medical Planning Worksheet (this also puts you on the list to get special announcements about the upcoming publication of The Blueprint to Age Your Way.)
