Planning ahead

In my previous post, I talked about our exit plans and the importance of talking about dying with our loved ones before it's too late.

The recent surge in cases of Covid-19 in my home town has got me thinking about planning ahead again.  The older we are, the higher the risk from the virus, so apart from making a will and ensuring important documents are to hand for those we leave behind, it might be useful to consider what else we can do - not just preparation for our demise, but preparation in case we are admitted to hospital, become seriously ill or incapacitated.

One of the practical things I've done is to pack an overnight bag with stuff I might need for hospital   - pyjamas, dressing gown, underwear, toiletries, hair brush and towel, a small amount of cash and a note with a list of medication and a reminder to include my mobile phone and charger. 

I'm also in the process of sorting out out clutter so family don't need to do it if we become too infirm to do it ourselves.  Anything we haven't used in the last year is going to be donated to charity, recycled or thrown away.  We have kept photos of landscapes that could be anywhere and photos of people whose names I can't remember - so they're going in the bin.  There's a box of electrical cables, old mobile phones and chargers....... the list goes on. 

It might not be a bad idea to consider your housing too.  You might want to think about moving to a smaller home that would be easier to manage as you get older; moving closer to family for support, or making changes to your home to make it easier to navigate as you age (such as swapping your bath for a walk-in shower). 

As always, if you have any comments, or anything to add I'd love to hear from you. 

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