“Ask Yourself, Honestly” is a game where winning is guaranteed! This is arguably an easy game because the correct answers are at the tip of your tongue and easily accessible in healthy parts of your temporal lobe.
An August 23, 2018 article published on Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing page suggests there are six ways to prepare for aging including adapting your home, preventing falls, considering housing options, thinking ahead about getting the help you need, planning for emergencies and writing up advance care directives.
If we want to “win” to live confidently and with dignity we must practice hard and design a workable Grand Plan that includes some of the following essential plays:
- Ensure financial security and reduce stressabout future costs by working with afinancial advisor, budgeting for age-relatedcosts, understanding Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance plans, long term care and in general, simplifying your finances. Get legally prepared with essential documents to make sure your assets, estate and your advance planning wishes are protected and review them regularly!
- Maintain your health and wellness by staying physically active, going to the doctor regularly, and working with a primary care doctor.
- Make sure you live in a safe and adaptable living environment by knowing your residential options, researching home modifications before you have to and being “seen” by people in your community who will know when you may need assistance.
- Stay socially connected by strengthening connections, being a part of community groups and exploring ways you can use technology to be in touch with the people who love and support you.
- Maintain emotional well being by real-talking about end of life wishes, being authentic about your feelings in conversations.
- If you’re not into getting real about the hard stuff, that is your right as an adult. Getting prepared for the second half can be a rewarding opportunity with a little perspective and practice
