By Mark Friedman
The importance of proper planning to craft a plan for aging in place cannot be understated. Deciding how to best care for ourselves or supporting someone heading into the fourth quarter of life is not the time to just “wing it.” It’s doubtful that General Eisenhower, on the eve of D-Day, looked at a map and said, “Let’s just land our troops wherever tomorrow and see what happens.”
Some of the planning may seem obvious, like investing to improve safety via home modifications and installing smart upgrades. And if more support is needed, think about homecare as a short-term strategy while you do the detailed planning.
But now it is time to plan.
Simple steps to get started
- Define what matters most to you as you age (priorities), and how various factors impact those priorities. For example, your geographic location plays a role (what is most important about it – friends, family, healthcare access, climate, etc.). No matter the location, lifestyle is a key component. How do you want to spend your day, and how do you prioritize activities to make it meaningful?
- Set your priorities (wants), then prioritize tradeoffs and consider how your needs impact them.
- Discuss with your “circle of care” so they understand both their role and how you want decisions to be made on your behalf.
Below are examples of wants and needs to help guide discussions and assessments to address both in your care planning. Remember, creating a plan must begin with defining what you want – your priorities and reconciling them with what you need. This provides context for decision-making and documenting your plan going forward.
Examples of wants:
Independence: The ability to perform daily activities with minimal assistance.
Family connection: Regular visits and/or communication with family and friends.
Quality of life: Opportunities to engage in hobbies, interests, and activities that bring joy and fulfillment.
Convenience: Services like grocery delivery, house cleaning, or meal delivery to ease daily tasks. Comfort and security: Loved ones to have open, honest conversations about the changes that are occurring and how to implement a support system for successful aging at home. The result is a comprehensive, highly personalized care plan that includes support for family, community, and caregivers.
Cognitive engagement: Allows us to share critical data with our clients and clinicians that will have an impact on outcomes by delivering a clear, concise message to the clinicians. We do this by opportunities for mental stimulation through classes, puzzles, or social activities.
Adventure: Identifying key areas of concern and opportunities for travel or day trips to explore new places or visit favorite spots.
Example of needs:
Healthcare access: Regular medical check-ups, medication and chronic condition management, and specialist consultations.
Mobility assistance: Help with walking, using a cane or walker, or modifications to the home for safety.
Nutrition: Access to healthy meals, assistance with meal preparation, or dietary planning.
Physical activity: Opportunities for exercise tailored to individual abilities to promote mobility and strength.
Personal care: A safe and comfortable living environment that reflects personal preferences. Help with bathing, grooming, dressing, and hygiene.
Social engagement: Programs and services that foster social connections to combat loneliness and isolation.
Transportation: Reliable means of getting to appointments, errands, or social activities.
Mental health support: Counseling, support groups, or companionship to address feelings of isolation or depression.
Planning is the key factor, but it can’t happen in a vacuum. All members of your circle of care should be involved so they can help you achieve what matters the most to you and what tradeoffs you are willing to make to achieve these goals? As they say, the devil is in the detail, so make those details count.
Once this is completed, you are ready to start the process with appropriate professionals to document and organize all of the legal, financial, and decision- making processes. You can refer to our “Aging Advantage Guide: Handling Difficult Conversations” (visit https://guide4aging.com/) for our recommended checklist of critical documents (medical, health and wellness, care, financial, and legal, etc.). Don’t forget to review you plan regularly and update as needed when health and/or needs change.
Eisenhower made the decision to land at Omaha Beach because his planning told him it was the best route to success. Your planning should not be considered any less important.
