You’re likely reading this because it won’t be long before you reach your senior years. Retirement is in sight, and soon you’ll have plenty of free leisure time to enjoy your golden years. But, should you be preparing for your senior years in some way?
As you reach this new epoch, there are some considerations you should make to ensure a smooth transition from your current working and home lifestyle. With that in mind, the following points illustrate what you need to think about as you approach your senior years.
1. General Health
Firstly, it’s always wise to have a general health checkup. Doing so will ensure that you can tackle any potential health problems, plus a health screening will pick up the early signs of certain diseases.
You can schedule a general health checkup with your doctor, and if there’s anything that concerns them about your health, they will refer you to a specialist. It’s something you should do at least once a year so you can lead a long and healthy life.
It’s never a good idea to avoid health checkups, especially as they aren’t particularly inconvenient, nor do they take long to complete.
2. Dental Health
Another thing to consider as you reach your golden years is your dental health. As you get older, your teeth may need attention – especially if you’ve neglected to care for them throughout much of your life.
Your dentist can perform a thorough examination of your teeth and gums, carry out an x-ray to check for other dental issues, and advise you on best practices for keeping your teeth healthy and strong as you get older.
It’s worth having a dental checkup once or twice a year, and as with a general health checkup with your doctor, the procedure won’t take long to complete.
3. Plan Your Funeral
Let’s face it: funerals aren’t a topic of conversation for most people. However, it’s one of those things you need to think about as you get older. As you probably know, funerals aren’t cheap, and if you don’t pre-pay for it before you die, your family will have to do so.
Thankfully, it’s easy to organize a pre-paid funeral plan and cover the costs of your funeral while you’re still alive. You can also specify your funeral wishes, so your family members have one less thing to organize when you pass away.
4. Express Your Wishes for End-Of-Life Care
Everyone expects to grow old gracefully and die a natural death. However, the sad truth is many people develop medical conditions that could mean their final days on Earth are somewhat painful and unpleasant.
With that in mind, it makes sense to express your wishes for end-of-life care to your loved ones. An advance healthcare directive or “living will” is a legal document that describes what you want to happen when you can no longer make decisions for yourself.
For example, you might decide that you want to get cared for by a specific hospice. Learn more about hospices and how they can provide you with palliative care that ensures you are as comfortable as possible during the end stages of your life.
5. Write a Will
What do you want to happen with your money, properties, and other assets when you die? Do you want to distribute your estate among your close family members, or would you prefer a charity of your choosing receives your money?
Writing a will is undeniably the best way to ensure that your estate gets distributed according to your wishes. It’s a good idea to have a local solicitor draw one up for you, and they can store it safely until the time comes.
It’s also possible to write a will yourself. But, you’ll need to have a legal professional check it’s valid, and you’ll need to keep it somewhere safe. Plus, you’ll need to let your spouse or someone else close to you the location of your will.
6. Get Your Financial Affairs in Order
Lastly, you should ensure that your financial affairs are in order before you reach retirement age. For example, you want to check that you’re using your savings and retirement accounts in the most tax-efficient way possible.
You should also determine how you can pay off certain loans like the mortgage on your home before you retire. That way, you won’t have to worry about how to pay for such large monthly expenses.
