Retirement
and living happily ever after articles are often clipped, scanned, and filed away
to be read later. Hopefully you read
enough of them to discover that retirement, like everything else, takes careful
planning. If you live alone you will
find that some rather unique and special circumstances apply.
If you are accustomed to living alone the idea of filling your hours and making plans
might not seem like a big deal, but others who find themselves without a
spouse, partner, or family may not find it quite as gratifying.
You may be looking forward
to enjoying peace and quiet and catering to your own needs, but living alone is not always what it is cracked
up to be. If you tend to feel lonely
when left to your own devices, or if your health or your financial situation is
questionable, you may need help. A financial
planner or a pre-planned support
system could give you much needed peace of mind. As independent as you like to think you are,
it is good to know that you have a plan in place.
Friends or distant family
members may not notice if you are struggling.
You may not notice it yourself, or if you do you want to keep your
private fears and thoughts to yourself. A financial planner might be the first
person to notice if you are skipping meetings, having trouble keeping records
straight or forgetting to pay your bills.
Before you reach the point where you actually need help, consider
setting up a bill paying service and keep meticulous records of your assets,
advisors, and important people in your life.
A financial planner is a good place to start. If they are not able to provide services as
comprehensive as you would like they can surely point you in the right
direction. There are also service providers in your community who can help you
maintain your current lifestyle.
Living alone is fine and
many people enjoy and relish the idea, but there comes a time in every ones
life when they will need a support
system, and not just in regard to finances.
If you don’t want to move into a facility that provides these services
you can investigate the possibility of creating a system of your own. If you
are thinking along these lines you know that there are others with the same
concerns. Remember that there are many
services that a person might need that don’t involve money at all. What about a daily call system to make sure
that everyone’s needs are being met?
Pool your resources to help out if someone needs a ride to the doctor, a
hot meal or someone to talk to. A group
of people with similar needs can work together for the common good. Look into services within your own community
that provide senior services and educational opportunities that you can share. Through knowledge, sharing and networking
you can create your own support system and work together to live happily and independently.
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