Page 2 - BusinessWest 2023 Senior Planning Guide

Inside Senior Planning Guide 2023
When BusinessWest and the Healthcare News first started publishing an annual Senior Planning Guide, the idea wasn’t to create a roadmap to the end of life, though it could, in some sense, be described as such.
The goal is to make sure you get your plans in order — from where you or your loved ones will live to how finances will be distributed — so you don’t have to worry so much, and instead enjoy the senior years to the fullest, or to help your aging parents enjoy them.
After all, the retirement years should be an enjoyable time, highlighted by special moments with family and friends, the freedom to engage in a range of activities, maybe even a chance to develop new interests and hobbies.
But to make the most of that time, proper planning — estate planning, financial planning, plans for care — is critically important. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Americans age 65 and older — which was
35 million in 2000, just 12% of the population — will reach 73 million by 2030, or 21% of U.S. residents. That’s a lot of people. And a lot of planning. And a lot of living left to enjoy.
Achieving your goals — and your desires for your loved ones — requires careful thought, and that’s where our annual Senior Planning Guide, presented by UMassFive Financial & Investment Services, comes in. So let’s sort through some of the confusion and get those conversations — and the rest of your life — started. BW
Wellness for Life
Sharing a Life
Journaling Is a Therapeutic Exercise — for All Those Involved...................22
Savvy Seniors Freeze It
Nutrition-minded Older Adults Should Heed These Tips ...........................26
The Emotional Bank Account
How Seniors Can Maintain Mental Wellness ..............................................29
A Whole Year of Fun
Older Adults Have Plenty of Ways to Stay Physically Active.......................30
Estate & Financial Planning
Estate Planning: An Introduction
Goals, Strategies Can Vary with Each Stage of Life .....................................31
Creating an Estate Plan
The Process Begins by Understanding the Key Documents .......................34
Decisions, Decisions
How to Choose a Medicare Plan 35
Preparing a Will
It Can Be a Dreaded Task, but It’s an Important One..................................36
A Task Better Left to a Professional
Being in Charge of an Estate Can Be Unsettling for All Involved ................37
Roadblocks to Equality
LGBTQ+ Elders Face Unique Planning Challenges.......................................38
Let’s Not Fight over This Stuff
Distributing Tangible Personal Property Can Cause Conflict ......................39
Caregivers & Adult Children
A Gentle Reminder
Don’t Lose Yourself in Caring for Others......................................................41
Reading the Signs
Six Indications It Might Be Time for Memory Care.....................................42
Having the Talk
Ten Tips on How to Approach a Difficult Topic............................................46
Four Steps to Emotional Wellness
Caregivers Must Understand the Importance of Self-care .........................48
It’s Not About Dying
How Hospice Care Supports the End-of life Journey ..................................49
Senior Resources ..................................51
20
AUGUST 7, 2023 << SENIOR PLANNING GUIDE >>
BusinessWest