5 Things to do When Aging Alone

“WHEN YOU START PREPARING EARLY ON, YOU’LL HAVE A SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND BETTER EXPERIENCE WHILE AGING ALONE.”

The first preparation one should make when faced with aging alone is planning for future care. A great way to start this process is to research your options. There may be things you want to downsize from your private home. If you are considering utilizing assisted living or independent living, check to see what your home care options are and see what amenities are available to you. Examples of this would include family participating in care, home care agencies, hospice agencies, and durable medical assistance.

Another important area of focus is to begin organizing your ideas and plan for what you know you want. It is also vital to ensure that you have an established community. Get to know your neighbors and actively interact with the people who live around you. Even if it’s your bank teller or hairstylist, having those connections and accountability is so important in the case of an emergency.

When aging alone, you will also need to get your estate in order. Make sure your pertinent papers are stored where they are easily accessible and can be located quickly, if need be. Information such as account passwords, your bill payment methods, and any active bills should also be shared with a designated person you trust. You don’t need to relay all of this information immediately, but it is good to be prepared in case you do need to share it with someone.

It may also be a good idea to appoint a power of attorney, which is a commonly misunderstood legal appointment. The power of attorney is a person or entity who will facilitate financial or medical decisions when you are unable to. At any given time, as long as you’re cognizant and your cognitive ability is not questioned, you can withdraw that nomination of power of attorney whenever you want. This can be an important option to investigate, because a power of attorney can also complete tasks such as disconnecting your utilities, paying your last bills, and talking to your funeral director in the case of your passing.

Another investment you may want to consider while aging alone is having a security system or an alert device installed to notify someone if you fall or become incapacitated for any reason. This is much more efficient than having a cellphone that you might not have on your person. There are tons of great assistant devices available that can be connected to emergency services or programmed to dial a loved one at the push of a button. You should also be sure to have working carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors.

You can never start planning too early when aging alone. Start building your community, researching assistive devices in the home, and thinking about estate planning. The earlier you start thinking and acting on these things, the safer, healthier, and better experience you’ll have when aging at home.