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You
Will Get Old - Get Ready For It!
Many
may think that once a resident has entered a retirement
community that they have made adequate preparations
for their future. So often that is not the case. There
have been large numbers of folks who have passed through
our residences who have no idea what they want to do
with the rest of their lives and have no plan as to
how to go about addressing the variety of issues associated
with aging. At our particular community, we have a resident
named Martha Simons (named used by permission) who has
made the preparations necessary for her passing.
Her
family will be grateful for all the thoughtful plans
she has made. We are grateful for her generosity in
sharing her wisdom that I will now pass on. Martha has
been invited to share this information at her church
for those in her Sunday school class. What a great outreach!
It is information that we, as Activity Directors, need
to put into place, also. It is never too soon to start
planning for our future.
Martha
is eighty-five years old and she is the most contented
she has ever been in her life - not because she had
a "bad" life, but because she has her life
in order. She enjoys good health, good support from
family and friends, engaged activity, financial stability,
and in all ways she feels safe and secure. None of these
things are an accident or the result of luck. Rather,
she has planned well, has made the choice to be content.
Those
whom we serve are often our richest sources for guidance.
As we all know, the reverse can be true also. So, this
article will offer some tips from Martha that, taken
seriously, will be a guide for facing old age. As Martha
succinctly states, "You will get old - get ready
for it!"
There
are seven suggestions that all of us would be wise to
heed:
1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Exercise.
2. Consume a healthy diet.
3. Follow your doctor's orders, including being responsible
to take medicines as directed.
4. Remain social, as this as an aid to maintaining good
mental health.
5. Whatever stimulated your brain is a wise choice:
studying genealogy, doing crossword puzzles, playing
bridge, Bible study, etc.
6. Preserve financial resources and avoid debt. If you
have a marriage partner, make decisions that affect
your future together. Information about where important
papers are located needs to be known by the appropriate
people. Some of these documents include: wills, bank
accounts, insurance policies, car titles, deeds to property,
and anything else of value.
7. Foster and maintain good family relationships. NN
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