As a senior, a common unsettling emotion at this age is the frustration that comes along with feeling inadequate, or as though you aren’t able to help your family in the same ways as earlier in life. Although it may be true that you might not have the ability to do exactly everything you used to, you should find peace knowing there are still wonderful ways that you can show care and appreciation for their loved ones, regardless of your age. Here are a few ways that loving your family doesn’t have to stop as the years pass.
Tell old stories
Although growing old has a few minor drawbacks, there is so much beauty and wisdom that comes from a mature life. These beautiful factors of aging can help highlight this point in your life as a time to support and impact your family in ways you never imagined. . One of the great things about being elderly is the vast number of memories and experiences you have made and gone through in your lifetime. From living through different time periods or collecting photographs and memorabilia along the way, you can pass traditions, wisdom, and valuable advice down to younger generations.
Especially if you have grandchildren, take time to sit down with them and passing along information or telling stories of your past. Inform them about their relatives they never got the chance to meet as explaining their heritage and family history is a great way to strengthen your family bond. As keepers of your family’s stories, you can support traditions and values for years to come by investing time sharing your knowledge and wisdom. You can use photo albums and family heirlooms to guide your stories and spark conversation among your family members as a way to connect them.
Plan for the future
At this point in life, you have most likely put your working days behind you. But one way to continue to financially support and protect your family is to re-evaluate your life insurance plan. If you have children or grandchildren who are still financially dependent on you, it’s important that you have a suitable life insurance policy that will guarantee stability to continue to support their quality of life after you are gone. Supporting your family in this way is a great reason to maintain your plan—especially if you have a whole life plan, where money can sometimes be borrowed against the policy while still keeping the insurance in tack to help pay for living assistance needs. If you have not already invested in a policy, take some time to research your options as plans are typically more expensive the older an individual is.
If you don’t require life insurance because you have no outstanding debts or dependents but are still looking for options to support your family, you can consider final expense insurance as an option. While it may not be something you wish to think about, setting this up will ensure your medical bills and funeral expenses will be taken care of before the end of your life. This will rid you of any uncertainties about your affairs and wishes while also providing you comfort that you will not create a financial burden to be left behind on others.
Select adequate housing
Something to consider as you decide on your living situation is the proper level of care that is needed to ensure that you are receiving the appropriate assistance while still maintaining necessary boundaries and independence. Remember that just as much as you wish to support the other members of your family, they have the same desire to make sure that you’re safe as well. Worrying for an older parent can cause stress, which is why spending time discussing your options and keeping them involved in the process can ease many concerns from both sides.
By making smart and researched decisions, you will be supporting your loved ones by offering them peace of mind, protection, and future financial security.