Q: Why should I prepare for my future needs now when I don’t know what my needs will be?
A: Preparing for the future is always recommended, even though we often do not know what that will involve. It is like purchasing homeowner’s insurance. You do not know if and when you will need it, or even why, but you buy it just in case. You know that if the time comes you will be thankful you have it.
As we age, we need to think about what “insurance” means to us. You may not know what needs to anticipate, but at the very least we can look at statistics to understand the trends. You may be one of the 77% of people over the age of 50 who wish to age in place, meaning you wish to remain in your current home and in community for the rest of your life. Statistics show that least half of older adults ages 65 or older can expect to need care during their later years.
If you want to age in place, thinking about how you will obtain, manage and pay for care, if needed, is an important part of your plan. Most homes will at the very least require some modifications to make them safer. These changes may be required for mobility issues and to reduce fall risks. They may include adding grab bars, chair lifts, or even ramps, depending on the home.
I was reminded of many people’s reluctance to think about these issues this past week. I was at a senior wellness fair hosting a table with the information about the services that Senior Concerns offers.
Many people stop to talk and ask questions. They take our flyers and sometimes even share stories about how Senior Concerns has helped them in the past.
But there are also a large number of people who come by and look at the name of our agency, “Senior Concerns” and they simply say, “I don’t need you yet” and they walk on by.
And yet time and time again we speak to people in the community who tell us they wish they knew about our services earlier. It is a challenge in the field of aging services to get the word out to people about services that are available in case they need them.
The message I want to share is that if you wait until you need help, it may be too stressful, time sensitive, or upsetting to start searching for resources from scratch. Instead, take a few moments to stop at our table, visit us at our offices, or call the local Area Agency on Aging, and learn about what is in place in your community to help people as they age. This may include, among other things, where to turn for referrals, caregiving support, health insurance advocacy, home modification programs, home delivered meal programs, socialization programs and dementia care.
Knowing your local resource is an important first step in planning ahead for all the “just in case” scenarios as we age. It may also be valuable information you will need to pass on to friends and family if they encounter their own needs.
We never know what the future holds, but a little information gathering now can prevent a lot of stress later. It is always better to never need the help, than to need it and not know where to turn.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
