Here’s the Deal - We Need a Plan for Aging

I come from a lengthy line of strong women. My Great Grandmother raised eight children. She was kind and hospitable to everyone. Into her eighties, she continued to do her own grocery shopping, which included carrying a bag or two up the steep hill on Thompson Street (stopping every now and then for a rest).

My Grandmother celebrated family. Diagnosed with heart disease in her forties, she had multiple strokes, and had to learn to walk and speak again. She never gave up.

My dad’s mom survived the depression without a husband and still managed to raise five children. My mom grew up in a small town and was brave enough to defy her father’s orders by leaving home to attend a two-year college so she could become a secretary. She married and raised three children, teaching us about independence and self-reliance.

Fast forward and I found myself working in marketing for an insurance company with a mission to educate consumers about the need for long term care planning and the implications on individuals and their families of not having a plan.

All of this led me to this blog, as I find myself caring for my elderly mother. I thought I knew what I signed up for and was prepared. However, being informed and experiencing something are different. No matter how much I read or what I learned was not nearly sufficient to prepare me for what this experience.

While I was not as prepared as I would have liked, to be a caregiver to my mother, I took actions to plan for my aging journey so that am not a burden to my children. I encourage everyone to make a plan for themselves and have the conversation with their parents about aging and long-term care.

Questions for you:

Do you have a plan for aging?

What is your plan for aging?