This is the sixth and final post covering the Healthy Aging Checklist, a set of six core activities that will help any older adult maintain the best possible health while aging.
They are:
- Promote brain health and emotional well-being.
- Promote physical health.
- Check for and address common aging health problems (such as falls, memory concerns, depression, incontinence, pain, isolation, polypharmacy).
- Learn to optimize the management of any chronic conditions.
- Get recommended preventive health services for older adults.
- Address medical, legal, and financial advance care planning.
In this post, I’ll address the last item on the list: advance planning for medical, legal, and financial issues. This includes power of attorney documents, plus much more.
This is a big topic, and it’s not possible to cover everything you could or should do in a single article. You would need a book for that — I suggest three down below — plus it’s best to work with qualified professionals (healthcare providers, eldercare attorneys, and financial planners) before completing any legally binding paperwork.
But every day as I work, I see older adults and families whose health and well-being is being affected by the consequences of their planning — or lack of planning, as the case often is.
So in this post, I will share some practical information that should make it easier for you to address planning that covers some common age-related challenges:
- The three key steps involved in all advance planning for aging
- 5 common problems every older adult and family should consider planning for
- What research has revealed about older adults and planning for the future (hint: that they are counting on their kids even though they usually don’t talk much to their families about this)
- 5 key steps for advanced planning in healthcare
- 4 key steps for advance planning for legal and financial issues
- What to know about durable power of attorney for healthcare and durable power of attorney for finances
- Tips for adult children, including what to do if you’re concerned about mental capacity or undue influence
