Lifespan Planning in the 4th Quarter: PlanYourLifespan.org INSERT YOUR LOGO, IF APPLICABLE [INSERT NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION]

What Do We Plan For? Birth 20s 40s 60s 80s Death “4th Quarter” Planning often involves end of life care, not planning for health events that happen as people age. Death “4th Quarter”

http://projects.newyorker.com/story/ chast-parents/ Roz Chast http://projects.newyorker.com/story/ chast-parents/ The truth of the matter is, however, that seldom do we want to have conversations of our own about topics of death and dying, or even about topics related to the inevitabilities of aging, including often reduced physical and cognitive function, the need to seek alternate housing arrangement, and the need to make hard decisions. So we tend to be more aligned with Roz Chast’s parents, who note: Can’t we talk about something more pleasant?” We tend to not want to think about it, so we tend not to plan or to push off planning

Are we talking about Hospice/End of Life? NO …think 10-20 years before you die.

Will you be hospitalized? Will you experience a fall? Will you develop Alzheimer’s? Many older adults do not understand their health trajectory and future health needs. Subsequently, friends and family must react to the crisis.

Let’s PLAN for these emergencies instead of reacting to them. Provide older adults a voice in their future. Doctors, nurses, and social workers know about the clinical life events and resources available to people as they age and needs grow. Together we can prepare…

Overview Background Navigating PlanYourLifespan.org Concluding Thoughts

TAILOR THIS SLIDE TO DESCRIBE YOUR GROUP, ORGANIZATION Our Team We are seniors, geriatricians, community members, university researchers, social workers, communication experts and home care specialists TAILOR THIS SLIDE TO DESCRIBE YOUR GROUP, ORGANIZATION

Goal: Develop a planning tool to assist older adults in making informed choices about issues in their health trajectory.

Why not plan ahead? Barriers to Planning Uncertainty over the future Too healthy/too sick Offspring influences Denial and Procrastination Overwhelmed and Perceiving a Lack of Options Financial Concerns Pride

Online & Paper-based Planning Tool www.planyourlifespan.org

Plan Your Lifespan© addresses: Talking to Others Hospitalizations Falls Finances Memory Loss and Alzheimer’s

Planning for Hospitalizations Planning … for a hospitalization? Rehabilitation choices (e.g., physical therapy) For each day of hospitalization, it may take 2-3 weeks to fully recover Physical therapy helps; offered in several settings Medicare online comparison: http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare

Other Sections

Preventing Falls at Home

Long Term Goals

Talking to Others

Conversation Starters “I went through this website (Plan Your Lifespan) and have been answering some questions about planning for my future. I wanted to share my answers with you to see if you have any thoughts.” Refer to a situation about someone who faced a health event. For example, “I was thinking about what happened with (Aunt Martha) and it made me think that I want to be prepared in case that happens to me.” “I know right now, I'm doing okay... but there's always a chance something could happen and it's scary. I'd like to talk about what I may need in the future so we're both prepared.”

Summary

PlanYourLifespan.org launch Publically available as of September 15, 2015 Nationally available with links to local resources No cost, free to use Secure website Paper-based version

Concluding Thoughts Questions to think about. Have you thought of what you would do if you could no longer live alone? Future living arrangements? What are you going to do if you get sick or need help at home? Have you talked to your family/Power of Attorney about what your plans are?

Concluding Thoughts Plan your lifespan. We may not know the future, but we can have a voice. Plan your lifespan. Identify preferences, values and goals. It’s a process. You are not alone. Plans change; will need to revisit.

Lifespan Planning in the 4th Quarter: PlanYourLifespan.org INSERT YOUR LOGO, IF APPLICABLE [INSERT NAME, CONTACT INFORMATION]