Preparing for the years ahead means thinking about the life you want to enjoy — and what could help make it possible. With so much to consider, it can be hard to know where to start.
“Living well in your senior years” is a four-part article series from Amica, shaped by insights from experts and thousands of conversations with seniors and families. We’ll explore getting started, family conversations, costs beyond dollars and financial approaches people consider when planning for senior living. Our online planning centre brings the articles and practical tools together.
Getting Started
With such a complex topic, it may be hard to know where to start. We often hear from seniors and their loved ones that they put off planning for their future because the thought of it is overwhelming. But planning ahead lets you design the life you want to live.
Understanding why getting started can feel challenging
You may see the value of preparing and still find yourself putting it off. Someone in your family may want to help yet hesitates to raise the subject. Planning for the future involves more than practical arrangements. It can bring up concerns about losing your independence or leaving the home you’ve known for many years. Research on information avoidance explains that we consider not only what we might learn, but also how that information could make us feel. When a topic feels emotionally significant or uncomfortable, we may hesitate to explore it — even when we want to be informed. It helps to think more deeply about why we are feeling uncomfortable. Is it the subject itself, or the feeling that exploring it will lead to an immediate decision?
Separate learning from deciding
Learning about senior living does not mean you need to make a decision soon, or that a move will follow. You can gather information simply to understand what is possible. Research with older adults distinguishes between gathering information, developing preferences and making concrete plans. Each stage serves a purpose. They do not all need to happen at once, and one does not automatically lead to another. You can make your intentions clear from the beginning. “I’d like to understand my options. I’m not working towards making a decision right now.” That leaves room to learn and reflect on what feels right for you.
Take time to consider your choices
One of the most valuable reasons to learn about your options before you need them is to give yourself more autonomy and choice if your health, support needs or living situation changes. When a decision becomes urgent, you may have less time to ask questions or consider alternatives. Availability can narrow your choices further. You and your family may find yourselves focusing on what can be arranged quickly, with less opportunity to consider what would be the best fit for you. Planning ahead gives you the opportunity to consider where you’d feel at home, the lifestyle you want and the people you’d like to surround yourself with. You don’t need to make any decisions right now, but exploring your options early gives you and your family time to talk about what matters most to you, so the choices you make reflect the life you want to live.
Notice what you still need to understand
You may have done some research and still have unanswered questions. Before diving deeper, try completing this sentence: “One thing I would like to understand better is...” Your answer might concern your quality of life, the support available, affordability or how to recognize whether an option would be right for you.
Continue exploring at your own pace
To help you along your journey, visit Amica’s online planning centre. There, you will find more tips on how to get started, along with helpful planning tools. Each week, we will add the next article in the series. Join us next week, when we will explore how families can have productive conversations about planning for the future.
