Bette Davis, one of the most dramatic actresses of the "Golden Age of Hollywood", is credited with having said, "Old age ain't no place for sissies!". That might just be the smartest statement ever made!
I believe all birth certificates should come with a warning label, "Warning, all parts may wear out by age 50!". You know what I mean. By the time you reach 50 it takes you longer to get out of bed than it takes you to pick out your clothes and get dressed. My bones have more creaks than the wood floor in a hundred year old house. And don't even get me started on the aches and pains. Every day it's a new surprise to learn what body part is going to hurt now. Some days I hurt in body parts I didn't even know I had!
Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating just a little; we all like to make fun of the trials and tribulations of getting older. Most of us would like to find ways to put it off, but, truth is, it happens whether we are ready or not.
As much fun as it is to joke about it, as we age, there are some serious issues that are no laughing matter. There are so many decisions to make, so many changes. Most of us do deal with various types of health issues; some are caring for elder parents or sick spouses. Where do you turn?
Family and friends are our first line of defense. They can be crucial in helping us make smart decisions or giving relief in caregiver situations. If you deal with specific conditions, most major diseases have organizations that can provide a wealth of information and usually at no cost.
One of the things that I find so confusing and frustrating is trying to sort through all the types of insurance offered. You have health insurance, life insurance, intensive care insurance, cancer insurance, nursing home insurance, long-term care insurance, etc., etc.. How much insurance can one person afford and how much do you really need? One type that we need to seriously consider is senior life insurance
One of the things we don't like to think about as we age is funeral costs. Having lost both my mother and mother-in-law in the past year I know that funerals are very expensive. Many families don't plan for these costs and may find themselves stressed out about how to pay for the final wishes of a loved one. Luckily, there are companies who offer life insurance for seniors. This insurance not only helps with funeral expenses but could also help with other payments such as mortgages, car payments, credit card bills or other left over bills. These are things we need to think about before it is too late.
Aging may be the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, other than to make jokes, but we all have a responsibility to our families to make the important decisions before it is too late. If you need help, seek out the proper people, companies or organizations that can provide the knowledge you need. In the meantime, keep the menthol-rub handy!
Until next time...that's my view.
Kat
I believe all birth certificates should come with a warning label, "Warning, all parts may wear out by age 50!". You know what I mean. By the time you reach 50 it takes you longer to get out of bed than it takes you to pick out your clothes and get dressed. My bones have more creaks than the wood floor in a hundred year old house. And don't even get me started on the aches and pains. Every day it's a new surprise to learn what body part is going to hurt now. Some days I hurt in body parts I didn't even know I had!
Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating just a little; we all like to make fun of the trials and tribulations of getting older. Most of us would like to find ways to put it off, but, truth is, it happens whether we are ready or not.
As much fun as it is to joke about it, as we age, there are some serious issues that are no laughing matter. There are so many decisions to make, so many changes. Most of us do deal with various types of health issues; some are caring for elder parents or sick spouses. Where do you turn?
Family and friends are our first line of defense. They can be crucial in helping us make smart decisions or giving relief in caregiver situations. If you deal with specific conditions, most major diseases have organizations that can provide a wealth of information and usually at no cost.
One of the things that I find so confusing and frustrating is trying to sort through all the types of insurance offered. You have health insurance, life insurance, intensive care insurance, cancer insurance, nursing home insurance, long-term care insurance, etc., etc.. How much insurance can one person afford and how much do you really need? One type that we need to seriously consider is senior life insurance
One of the things we don't like to think about as we age is funeral costs. Having lost both my mother and mother-in-law in the past year I know that funerals are very expensive. Many families don't plan for these costs and may find themselves stressed out about how to pay for the final wishes of a loved one. Luckily, there are companies who offer life insurance for seniors. This insurance not only helps with funeral expenses but could also help with other payments such as mortgages, car payments, credit card bills or other left over bills. These are things we need to think about before it is too late.
Aging may be the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about, other than to make jokes, but we all have a responsibility to our families to make the important decisions before it is too late. If you need help, seek out the proper people, companies or organizations that can provide the knowledge you need. In the meantime, keep the menthol-rub handy!
Until next time...that's my view.
Kat
This post is brought to you by http://www.burialinsurance.org but all views and opinions are strictly mine.
Hi Karen, I am so glad you wrote this! This is such an important issue and people just don't want to talk about it or deal with it. My husband is a CFP (Certified Financial Planner) and we had an insurance agency for 25 years. My husband deals with retired people and life insurance, long term care, and final expense every day. The only complaint he ever gets is from a family member after the fact saying that they wished they had listened to him and taken out that LTC or final expense policy. It's just not a pleasant subject and very few people want to think about this. And then there are those few people that don't care if they leave anything (money or help) to those they leave behind. As you can tell, this is a subject I get passionate about! Thanks for writing about it! I'll be sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you Nina. I appreciate your comments. I so love writing my personal blog posts about my family and friends that I never know how the ones I write for payment will be accepted. I'm glad you appreciated it.
ReplyDeleteI read an article about living fully once, and the writer said the last check you write should be to the funeral home--and it should bounce. I wouldn't go so far as to stick it to the funeral director. Sure, funerals are expensive. But people die only once, so their profit isn't as great as you might think. Still, my final expenses insurance policy is an IRA.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would do that either Angela. That's just not who I am. Glad you are prepared.
DeleteGreat reminder. I've never been one who is afraid of the hard stuff, but I do understand that many are and it's good to be reminded.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin.
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