I’m just going to cut to the chase, so pay attention:

We are not immortal. As we age, stuff happens that we can not control.

It is vitally important that we make plans that include what will happen to us should we become incapacitated physically or mentally as we age.

Because if we do not make those plans and specify them, someone else will. And we may not like their decisions on our behalf.

I am watching this happen to someone I love in real time and it is painful.

I’ve written before that we have finally made our own plans and will move to a continuing care community with an amazing active adult component as soon as we can. Unfortunately, we picked a popular place and we’re on a waiting list that could be five or six years long.

We are very late to this decision and we regret not doing this five years ago. Our job now is to outlive the waiting list. Which may or may not happen.

Why don’t more people make plans for old age? 

1. They don’t think it’ll ever happen to them.
2. They believe that they have time, no need to rush.
3. They don’t know where to start to look.
4. They have an outmoded view of what is available to older folks today.

Well, the dark truth is it could happen to you and probably will. You don’t know how much time you have–something could happen tomorrow. You just don’t know.

And you may not know there are geriatric consultants that can help you sort through the options at no charge to you. Find them.

The continuing care communities of today start with independent living for active adults and I do mean active. No sitting around waiting to get old.

Living options vary. Communities can offer free-standing homes, multi-plexes, apartments. Depends on the community. Ours offers them all.

The next level up from independent living is assisted living, which could be short term as in recovery from a knee replacement, or longer term…. and then, finally, skilled nursing.

Many of these communities are really, really nice. Some are downright luxurious. And active adult programming is pretty active. It is not the nursing-home-warehouse of yesteryear.

In the San Francisco Bay area, the tri-level communities we would consider are pricey and to be honest, nice only in the facade. Behind the facade they remind me of Motel 6.

So we’ve found one we love in the Pacific Northwest. It offers far more than the pricer communities in our California county. We’d go now, if we could, but we have to wait out the list.

If you do not want others–even your family– to be in charge of what happens next, go ahead and make those decisions now, place deposits and codify what you want to happen.

This is by far the most important thing you can do for yourself if you are over 55.

And if you are far younger? Save for retirement. It’ll be here before you know it. And keep in mind you’ll want to be able to afford your next steps.

So please, if you do nothing else, pay attention to this post.