Plan your later life when you’re young enough to do so…and free yourself from stress
Many of us put off making decisions about our later life. We believe that accidents and serious illness happen to other people but not them. Some are too caught up living in the here and now to consider where they would like to live, how they will live to ensure their needs are met and how they can afford the lifestyle they want down the track. Sometimes later life, no matter what your age, seems too far away to contemplate.
For too many people later life comes roaring around the corner with no prior notice. It just takes a slip in the shower, a shoe heel catching the edge of a stair, or being on the wrong end of some rough play with the grand children to bring later life ominously into the present. Suddenly, you find yourself shocked, bewildered and totally unprepared for what could come next. Your independence is parked in the hospital ward’s valuables locker. You are no longer choosing the more gentle and scenic path for the weekend coastal walk. You are now seriously struggling with pain, not being able to move easily or comfortably and pyjama paralysis that comes from lying in bed for too long. Someone else is deciding what you will eat. Your craving for the roast that you were just about to enjoy before the ambulance arrived to take you to hospital is a distant memory.
We rarely see coming the accident, injury or illness that lands us in hospital and changes our life. Few anticipate that first last hospital admission that sees us not discharged to home but to rehabilitation and transitional care. Sometimes the trajectory of disability propels us permanently to residential aged care or supported care in the home.
The effects of unanticipated accident, illness and injury can be shocking, profound and for some, instantly life changing. Whatever, they are a wake up call to be prepared for any eventuality.
This is why Palliative Care Australia is urging all of us to create an end of life plan. It’s your way of being able to stay in control of the decisions made about you and by whom, the type of care you receive, where you will live and your last wishes. No one wants to have decisions about their later life or end of life made by someone else.
You can develop later life and end of life plans at anytime. You can also change them as often as you like. You will not bring on an accident or illness by being prepared. Think about good preparation as insurance for a peaceful journey to the end.
Here are just a few ideas to contemplate in your later life for inclusion in the later life and end of life plans. There are more in the resources below.
Later life
What care, assistance and support would you like to receive. Who has your best interests at heart. Who can help you to navigate the system to help you to access the care and services you desire. Who do you trust to help you.
What is your alternative plan, if for some reason you or the person you have chosen are (temporarily) unavailable to be involved in the decision-making about your care?
Where you’d like to live. How much independence would you like. Will it be in a place that suits your personality, lifestyle and safe. Is it affordable, particularly over the longer term. Are the care, support and services you need available.
Who do you trust to pay your bills and manage your money.
Have you sorted your finances including superannuation arrangements.
It’s stressful for loved ones left stranded when bank accounts are frozen, assets are hidden and no one can find shares, bonds and superannuation.
End of life
What are you last wishes. Take the time to think about them deeply. What are your beliefs and values. Who should know those wishes.
Write those last wishes down in your advance care directive.
IF you have planned your funeral or end of life celebration, who knows those plans. Have you chosen music, hymns, readings, the seating plan etc?
Who needs to know when you go.
Make or update your will. Who can find it easily.
Have you chosen an executor who is fit and able to administer your estate. Will they need support from a deceased estate administrator to unravel what may be a complex and tangled estate.
Make decisions as to how to distribute all of the items that are not listed in your will. Is that information easy to find.
Have a look over the resources listed below for some ideas and inspiration on how to make your later life as stress free as possible.
Resources
Planning for future aged care needs. Better Health Channel, Victoria State Government, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/planning-for-future-aged-care-needs (Accessed 26 June 2025)
Aging in place: growing older at home. National Institute for Aging. (USA). Text also in Spanish https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/aging-place-growing-older-home (Accessed 26 June 2025)
Planning ahead for later life. Australian Human Rights Commission https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/age-discrimination/planning-ahead-later-life#:~:text=It%20involves%20thinking%20about%20and,how%20best%20to%20support%20you. (Accessed 26 June 2025)
Planning guide for older Australians. Australian Seniors. https://www.seniors.com.au/life-insurance/discover/planning-guide-for-older-australians (Accessed 26 June 2025)
Nelson S. Is it time to downsize. 5 questions to help you decide. Rest less 9 June 2025 https://restless.co.uk/leisure-and-lifestyle/home-garden/is-it-time-to-downsize-your-home-questions-to-help-you-decide/ (Accessed 26 June 2025)