It’s hard to plan for old age when the critical factors are unknowable:
- how long you’ll live
- how long you’ll be able to make decisions for yourself
- what kinds of care you’ll need
- how long your money will last
- whether you’ll outlive your social network
- what resources will be available to you?
While you’re likely to need caretaking if you live long enough, there’s no way to know how long you’ll need it for. It could be a few days or many years.
The longer you need care, the bigger the toll on finances and social circumstances. If you languish for a long time with ever-increasing care needs, your funds and support systems will dwindle. Your friends will be aging along with you.
The kind of care you need makes a difference. A time may come when decisions must be made regarding treatment options and living arrangements. Will YOU be able to make these decisions? Maybe not — due to a stroke, Alzheimer’s or some other condition.
Despite all this uncertainly, there are things you can do. Most important is preparing healthcare documents that detail your wishes and designate a surrogate. These take effect when you’re no longer able to speak for yourself and a doctor has signed off on your incompetency.
A declaration of incompetency may follow a health crisis like a stroke or other medical emergency. It can be revoked if you recover competence. (For example, post-surgery drug-induced dementia could well be temporary.) It’s warranted at some point along the decline typical of Alzheimer’s. And it may be appropriate in the final days or weeks before death. No one should have to plead their own case from their deathbed.
A declaration of incompetency often follows a health crisis. What preparations can you make beforehand for such a time? Sensible preparation includes having your paperwork prepared and accessible, having an “emergency kit” ready that includes healthcare documents, information for your financial agent, personal amenities like your favorite pajamas, a list of people to call and more. You can find suggestions on the web, e.g. Preparing for a Medical Emergency.
Part of good preparation is making sure that if you do have a crisis, someone finds out about it. Those call-alert systems advertised in AARP publications come to mind but like most young old people, I’m not there yet.
Call-alert systems promise an instant response. Senior facilities also guarantee a quick response in the event of a fall or health crisis. Though possibly less instant, it’s worth finding a friend or neighbor who’ll check in with you regularly.
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