Living alone while aging requires thoughtful preparations and planning.
Most Kansans are familiar with the popular line from the Wizard of Oz film about how “there is no place like home.”
Anyone who has returned from travel can attest to the comfort of sleeping in their own bed.
Although seniors have witnessed a lot of change in their decades of life, this does not mean they will jump at the opportunity to move in retirement.
When seniors age in place, they benefit from the familiarity of their own environment.
Even so, seniors face greater risks from unexpected emergencies, financial mismanagement, and health issues when living alone in their homes.
Yikes!
Logistical and legal planning can provide safeguards and supports for those who are aging alone.
Estate planning and practical preparations can help seniors living alone maintain safety and security.
When elders prioritize estate planning, they provide clarity to their loved ones about their wishes and give them greater confidence in decision-making when necessary.
Estate planning documents, such as general durable powers of attorney and advance health care directives, are essential for addressing medical and personal emergencies.
What do each of these accomplish?
A general durable power of attorney ensures a trusted individual has the legal authority to pay bills, manage banking, and care for tax matters if the senior lacks capacity.
Advance health care directives (our two-page version consists of the health care treatment directive and the durable power of attorney for health care decisions) are used to document desired healthcare treatments and to appoint a healthcare agent to speak on behalf of the senior when they are unable to do so.
Because signing estate planning documents requires mental capacity, seniors living alone should not delay this necessary protective action.
When living alone, one should feel secure their surroundings and belongings.
Seniors should document a complete list of their assets.
Physical assets, such as a vehicle or collectibles, and intangible assets, including retirement accounts, bank accounts, and insurance, should be included in the inventory.
Seniors living alone should take steps to secure their home while making it accessible to trusted individuals who provide support.
Some options are the use of lockboxes, spare keys, or a house key registry.
Aging adults must also establish protocols for managing bills, mail, and digital accounts.
Detailed documentation and clear arrangements minimize risks of isolation and financial mistakes.
Anyone living alone should have an emergency response plan in place.
These plans are especially beneficial for older adults.
Seniors should share their physician and healthcare preferences with trusted individuals.
They should share about approved and desired medications and treatments.
Aging individuals who live alone benefit from regular check-ins.
Arranging regular visits or phone calls helps to monitor safety.
Seniors should have a list of important medical information and contacts to help caregivers and first responders act quickly and effectively if their support is required.
Neglecting estate planning can lead to troublesome outcomes in the future.
Loved ones may be forced to petition the courts for a guardianship or conservatorship if the senior's cognition declines.
With estate planning, seniors can protect their autonomy through using specific and clear language in estate planning documents, appointing individuals they trust to serve as agents, setting up efficient estate distribution with payable-on-death accounts and living trusts, and updating beneficiaries for property and accounts.
Taking action now prevents the need for excessive court involvement while preserving personal wishes.
If you do not yet have an estate plan, request a consultation with our Overland Park estate planning law firm.
Estate planning allows seniors to prepare for incapacity with advance directives and powers of attorney.
Seniors with organized and detailed healthcare and financial information can protect their well-being and reduce the risk of costly errors.
Because involvement with the courts is both expensive and impersonal, comprehensive estate planning is essential to preserving both independence and privacy.
This post is for informational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice on any specific issue or problem. Nothing herein creates an attorney-client relationship between Harvest Law KC and the reader.
Reference: AARP (Dec. 18, 2019) “Planning for Aging Alone: Financial and Legal Steps”
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