WellSenior

Medicare has a number of options. Understanding what each covers can help you plan with more confidence. Even if you feel healthy and active today, your Medicare choices still shape your future healthcare expenses, your care choices, and where you may want to age. Learn the basics to have a clearer picture of what is…

Emergencies, by definition, happen with little to no warning. Having a “go bag” ready can save time and reduce stress should you need to leave home quickly due to a severe storm, power outage, or other unforeseen event. Preparation helps you respond with confidence instead of panic. The American Red Cross recommends that a go…

If your goal is to “age in place,” now is the time to consider some remodeling. And no room demands more physical agility than the kitchen. It’s impossible to foresee how your body may change over time. But making a few thoughtful accommodations now could extend your comfort and independence. Plus, such an investment may…

What if your life suddenly changed. Do you know who would step up to help? Regardless of whether you are a solo ager, part of a couple who hasn’t discussed “what if” scenarios, or someone with family nearby, it’s best to identify help before needs arise. Making the effort now to talk about your wishes…

While cognitive impairment is not inevitable with age, the possibility of experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia makes advance planning an important and empowering step. This doesn’t mean resigning yourself to decline. Planning allows you to stay in the driver’s seat of your life rather than leave your future to chance or to…

If you like to plan ahead, you understand the value of having the right resources in place when life inevitably brings changes. Consider choosing to make professional care management part of your proactive life plan in the same way you chose to rely on trusted legal and financial counselors. An Aging Life Care™ Manager is…

Between ages sixty-five and seventy-five (“young-old”), you’re typically independent and clear about what matters most to you. That makes now the ideal time to talk with your family or chosen decision makers about your wishes for your future. Waiting until age eighty-five often means those conversations are driven by crisis, fear, or urgency. Starting as…

Aging brings change. Some of it is expected and manageable; some of it deserves closer attention. Have you noticed slower recall, needing more light to read, or taking a little longer to recover from exercise? These are common, normal parts of aging. What’s not normal? Changes such as getting lost in familiar places, poor balance,…

As many of us have discovered throughout our lives, spending time outdoors isn’t just “nice.” It often feels fundamentally healing, no matter our age. Research supports this. Time spent in nature has been shown to decrease cortisol, a stress hormone, and boost the immune system. It can reduce depression and improve attention. It can lower…

An advance directive is one of the most important planning documents you can create to ensure your healthcare wishes are followed if you can’t speak for yourself. Don’t wait for illness or old age to make one! Putting your wishes in writing now means that if an accident or sudden health event occurs, your values…