
Advance Planning Is Critical in the Path to Aging Well
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
Ben Franklin
According to the New York Times article, “Going Solo: How to Plan for Retirement When You’re on Your Own,” about 60 percent of solo agers— older people without dependable assistance from adult children or other family—have not developed a plan for addressing financial, medical, and estate issues should their health falter. While it can be difficult and emotionally fraught, it is critical to outline a detailed roadmap for decision-making and handling affairs, for so many reasons, including peace of mind. And, this is true for all older folks, not just those living alone. As another quotable icon (Winston Churchill) said, “Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning.”