Housing Plans
We have an insurance plan, we have a financial plan, but how many of us have a housing plan? Yes, a housing plan! At my seminars, I’ve asked this question to hundreds of senior home owners, and invariably the response is a blank stare. We leave one of the most important aspects of our lives to chance. We wait for circumstances to dictate when we will make our next move. Unfortunately, circumstances can change quickly in the form of health changes or financial loss. It would be a blessing if we could predict the precise moment when and if these changes would occur.
Since most of us do not have the gift of viewing the future , we must plan accordingly. We should take an honest look at our current and future needs by taking inventory of what our needs are both physically and mentally. Many of us are in a two story home, with the laundry in the basement. Yes, exercise is a good thing, but if our knees are feeling the pressure of stairs, and we begin to dread the ‘journey’ to the second floor or basement, it may be time to think of a change. If it is getting harder to navigate when taking a shower or bath it may be time to think of a change. If driving at night is becoming an odyssey, and your favorite restaurants and stores are no longer in your neighborhood, it may be time to think of a change. If the home is too large, and many rooms are being used for storage facilities, it may be time to think of a change. If you feel like a prisoner in your own home, and you are not interacting with others and you are feeling isolated, it may be time to think of a change.
These are just some of the symptoms you may be experiencing. If you sense that your home is no longer working to meet your needs, why wait for some catastrophic event to occur, leaving you unable to make a change on your own terms. Make a move when you can choose your new housing while you are relatively healthy. The saddest cases I see are when a sudden change in health or finances occurs, and the children get involved to make decisions for their parents.
Do any of us want our children left with the burden of making crucial decisions for us? You have spent countless hours planning your finances and health plans. Now spend some time developing a housing plan based on your honest needs both present and future. You’ll be happy you took the time to open the door to a happier and healthier future in a home that gives you the freedom from worry, and allows you to enjoy your retirement to the fullest!
Tags: decisions, future, mental needs, physical needs