Planning for the Future Beyond Retirement
by Juli McDonald KFYR TV
Posted on 4/25/2010
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It’s wise to make plans for retirement. It’s also a good idea to make plans for a time when you may have difficulty making decisions.
Aging adults often aren’t too eager to discuss topics like healthcare agents or retirement homes, but it’s better and safer to talk about them now before you’re faced with big decisions unexpectedly.
You might think choosing a healthcare directive is only for the elderly, but they’re not the only ones who have accidents or get sick.
A healthcare directive is a document that states your wishes in case you’re incapacitated somehow. It involves choosing a healthcare agent who will act on your behalf.
“It`s a good thing to have on an individual basis, and it’s also good for medical facilities because they know with that healthcare directive what your wishes are,” said State Long Term Care Ombudsman. “Your healthcare agent is assigned to carry out what your wishes are.”
But planning for the future doesn’t mean something bad is going to happen, and it doesn’t necessarily mean giving up freedom. In addition to choosing a directive, you might also look into long-term care options.
“Some people come and say I’m doing fine now, but they never know when they’ll have a stroke, a heart attack, a fall and need services, so it’s wonderful to be able to adjust as their needs change,” said Reva Kautz, Edgewood Vista.
Sometimes after an accident or the death of a loved one, people need to relocate to retirement communities, but giving up your home doesn’t mean giving up your life.
“People are looking for activities and ways to be involved around people, so we’ve got a coffee shop for them to enjoy with their guests, we’ve got a movie theater, we’ve got a fitness center and other businesses that come in and help them be as involved right here as they want to be,” said Kautz.
Many residents in retirement communities are able to enjoy high quality of life in a safe environment, simply because they planned ahead and know their wishes will be followed.
St. Alexius Medical Center will be holding a series of free presentations over the next month to discuss some of these important decisions.
Upcoming Dates:
- Tuesday, May 18
- Tuesday, June 8
The program begins at 6:30 p.m. and is held in Boniface Auditorium at St. Alexius. (use East Patient Entrance) Please RSVP by calling 530-7700 or 800-843-9628.