The ageing process is something that affects everyone, whether they like to admit it or not. There will come a time where you may need to make significant lifestyle changes to adapt to your ageing process.
Typically, those changes will be due to medical reasons. The trouble is, some people don’t tend to think about what might happen when they become senior citizens. As a result, they might end up needing to rely on their kids for all kinds of daily support.
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Most grown-up children will be happy to help their aged parents. But, as their parents’ care needs grow or become more complex, those children will struggle to balance caring for their parents and living their own lives – especially if they have families of their own.
Are you worried about burdening your children in such ways as you get older, or if your health deteriorates as you age? There are some steps you can take now to make life easier for them but still get the care you need in your twilight years. Here’s what you can do:
Downsize to a more manageable home
You may have spent many decades in your family home and enjoyed a lot of happy memories. What would happen if you couldn’t physically maintain your home, or you ended up with mobility issues as you got older?
Downsizing to a smaller property such as a cottage or bungalow could be the answer. You’ll still have enough room to entertain family and friends. Plus, it’ll be cheaper and easier to maintain.
And if you did have problems with mobility as you got older, you wouldn’t struggle so much to do basic things in your home.
Start planning your financial future today
Another thing you should do is ensure that your finances are in order before you approach retirement age and head into your golden years. Examples of what you can do include:
- Ensuring you aren’t living beyond your means;
- Making sure any pension plans you’ve got are current and valid;
- Paying off loans and credit card debts before you retire;
- Organise a pre-paid funeral plan so that your offspring don’t have to fund your funeral expenses.
- Write your will and lasting power – Casey & Associates can help.
Look at options for live-in care
If you do need help with basic activities in your home as you age due to mobility issues or other medical conditions, it makes sense to consider live in care. For a start, you won’t have to move out of your home and into a care home.
Secondly, you’ll feel more independent because you can still enjoy being in your home and around familiar surroundings. And, thirdly, you won’t have to worry about safety because you won’t be alone in your home.
Final thoughts
It’s no secret that this topic isn’t something a lot of people talk about in advance. But, it’s a subject you need to consider if you don’t want to feel like you’re burdening your adult children with your potential care needs.
Thanks for helping me understand how important it is to secure my finances before I retire. My children have their own families now and even if I have a few years left before 65, but I want to ensure that I wouldn’t be a burden to my kids once I reach that stage in my life. I’ll try to explore senior care services and see what kind of living arrangement would work for me and my needs.
Great tips! But we grownups must also take it upon themselves to take utmost care of our parents and provide them complete support. We must not forget that they have made lots of sacrifices to give us the best life.
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