What Will Your Aging Story Be
Over 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 every single day in the United States. This means by 2040, 1 in every fifth person in the United States will be over 65. With such a large population of older people, stress will be placed on our retirement, medical, and employment systems. Someone you love will probably need your help. Or you may be joining the ranks of those over age 65. The urgency of starting the aging preparation process is clear, motivating you to take proactive steps.
Disability is likely to increase the older you become. If you are between the ages of 65 and 74, you have 23.9% of dealing with a disability. If you are over 75, the disability chance doubles to 46%. The risk for dementia grows as a person ages. Between the ages of 65 and 74, 3.2% of people have dementia. Between the ages of 75 and 84, it's 9.9%. Over the age of 85, it is 29.3%. Marriage allows couples to share expenses and households, and 70% of the men over 65 are married, while only 40% of the women are married. This increases the probability that single women will fall into poverty.
Now is the time to write the story of your life's last 20 to 30 years. Your story could be an adventure where you're still growing and learning while dealing with life's challenges. It could be a hero's journey of becoming a spousal or parent caregiver, yet challenging brings great joy. Your story can be sad or tragic, with an unhappy ending. It could be full of drama as the family has an unresolved conflict. You could feel like watching a reality show of your life as people fight over your care or money.
Aging with dignity and writing your story is essential to retain as much control as possible and not leave aging to chance. This book will guide you in preparing yourself or your family for their aging journey. Most people don't want to think about what is at the end of that journey, but if you are getting older, it will include death. Most of you growing older know you want a peaceful end to your life. Until that end comes, you want to live it to the fullest, with dignity and purpose. Even for those who struggle with disabilities or dementia, life can have meaning, purpose, and love.
The time to start preparing for aging is now, while you're still in good health and can make decisions. This is the time to create and share a plan with your future caregivers. Remember, this plan must be updated regularly to reflect your changing needs and circumstances.
Some people have set up a trust and a will and feel that is enough. Others have met with financial planners and determined how much money they need in retirement. Those things are essential, but there is more to growing older than just meeting with your lawyer and finance. Your family needs to know what is going on with you in case something happens to you and you cannot make your own decisions. You need to be prepared for when you receive a telephone call, and mom is in the hospital with a broken hip.
As I have been a geriatric nurse for over ten years, this future book is written to guide you so that you can write your own aging story. Plan to be as healthy as possible, receive help if needed, and be surrounded by the important people in your life. This future book will cover everything from talking to your doctors to visiting senior communities and hopefully keeping your family involved.