Solo agers and proactive planners

Proactive planning consultations for solo aging

As you look to the future, you likely have some thoughts about what you want it to be like. By asking questions and exploring your options, we help you make a plan to be sure you have the resources you will need to bring that vision to reality while keeping your independence. Don’t wait for a crisis. Let us help you plan proactively for the later stages of your life.

Aging in place

• Fall prevention. Is your home well equipped to support you in your elder years? Are there significant fall hazards? Any remodeling that’s needed?
• What are your transportation options for when you may need to give up driving? (According to the American Automobile Association, the average adult outlives their ability to drive safety by seven to ten years.)
• Social isolation and loneliness. How will you address social isolation? This is a very common occurrence for older adults, especially solo agers. And it has a profound effect on both your mental health and physical health. What plans do you have to stay socially connected?
• Home care. What will you do when you start needing help with light-duty tasks (cooking, housekeeping, bill paying)? What about more personal care (bathing, incontinence care)?

Other issues to address

• Relocation. Is it better to move closer to younger relatives or wiser to stay where you are? We can help you assess the resources and options in a different community and the likely costs, and help plan a move. You don’t want to make such a big life change without a thorough investigation of what’s involved and available at the new destination.
• Dementia. How will you know if you start to have memory problems? Most people who get Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are not aware of the changes in their abilities. You need someone to let you know when it’s time to get tested and get support.
• Decision making. Who will make decisions for you when you are no longer able to do so for yourself? Financial decisions? Healthcare decisions?
• Long-term care planning. There may come a time when the wisest choice is to receive care in a group setting. This may be an assisted living facility, a memory care center, or a continuing care retirement community. Understanding your values and your finances, we can make recommendations for the best fit. Unlike senior advisors who get paid referral fees from the facilities, our recommendations are based on our objective assessment for your best interest. We can help you with the move-in process and often negotiate lower rates for the first year of residency.
• End-of-life care. Who will be helping you in your last days? Have arrangements been made for your funeral? What about disbursal of your assets?
• Budgeting. How much is all of this likely to cost? Do you have the resources? If not, do you have time to grow your nest egg? Or are there less expensive alternatives that would be worth investigating?

As you can see, there’s a lot to arrange. And better to start planning ahead of time rather than try to make wise decisions during a health crisis. Let us serve as your guide through the process. With proactive planning, you can rest assured that your wishes will remain front and center as you age.

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Team approach for professionals

If you are responsible for clients who do not have any relatives, you need reliable professionals with deep experience in the eldercare system. We understand what’s needed to protect vulnerable adults. More than that, we also know what’s needed to address quality of life, meaning, and connectedness.

Guardians, trust officers, and estate planning attorneys select us because of the professionalism of our team. We are on call twenty-four hours a day, so we can handle emergencies and oversee hands-on care. This liberates you to focus on your area of expertise.

Our services include the following:

• The Assessment and Care Plan. We determine your client’s strengths and areas where they need more support across a broad spectrum of issues: Health status, social connection, cognitive abilities, and functional competencies. We then work with you to find the most cost-effective ways to provide appropriate and high-quality support.
• Medical advocacy. Are all conditions being addressed, with coordination between providers? Is there a way to reduce the number of medications to reduce side effects and diminish the chances of adverse events? Are there nonpharmaceutical therapies that might provide superior outcomes and improve quality of life?
• Aging in place If the priority is to remain at home, we can arrange for any needed modifications to the household. Also to coordinate and monitor services to address transportation issues, isolation, and loneliness. Is home care the best option when IADL and ADL support is needed? If so, we can recommend which local company offers the best home care. We can also recommend home monitoring technology to identify problems such as falls, potential bladder infections, etc.
• Dementia screening and support. For those who appear to have cognitive impairment, we can get a full medical evaluation. We can also implement strategies to support better medication management and reduce problems such as sundown syndrome or wandering. You might be interested in our Active Enrichment Program for your clients with dementia. Wandering and nighttime restlessness are often an indication of not enough stimulation during the day.
• Recommendations for placement. We can offer recommendations for assisted living, memory care, and nursing home placement, depending on your client’s care and support needs. By hiring us privately, you rest assured that our recommendations are based on your client’s best interest, not which facility pays us the most for a finder’s fee. We can help with the move-in process and are often able to negotiate lower rates for the first year of residency. We can also do regular checkups to monitor health and well-being and make sure that your client’s needs are being promptly and appropriately addressed.

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Enrichment activities and companionship

Loneliness is a big problem among older adults. Even for people who live in retirement communities. Loneliness is not just about the number of people you interact with. It’s about spending time with people who genuinely enjoy the same interests that you do.

Many solo agers become widowed—or divorced—and find themselves at a loss for socializing. They have been part of a couple for so long. All of their friends may be couples. They just don’t have the confidence to engage with others as a single individual.

Our Active Enrichment Program provides one-on-one outings tailored to your unique interests. Love the symphony? Let’s go together! Always wanted to paint? Let’s watercolor! Ready to go for a nature walk? We know all the local spots and can even arrange a picnic or lunch out afterwards.

If you find yourself dealing with depression or anxiety, let us help you gently get used to your new situation so you can get your bearings and find your new balance.

Learn more about our Active Enrichment Program for people who live alone.

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