We’ve put together a list of questions that too many people never ask themselves as they’re getting ready for retirement. If you’re aging (or someone you know is aging), it’s probably time to start thinking about these questions and putting plans into place.
Social
- Should I prioritize living close to friends and family?
- What social activities bring me the most joy, and how can I ensure that I keep doing those activities after I retire?
- If my health starts to fade, how can I find activities that I can still do with others?
- How will I feel if I can no longer carry out the activities that previously brought me joy?
Personal
- If I need to wear hearing aids to be able to hear, will I?
- If I need to use a walker to get around, will I be willing to do it?
- How will I know when it’s time to stop driving?
- What will it feel like to see some of my closest friends die as we age together?
Health
- What is my plan for continuing to learn and use my brain to prevent cognitive decline?
- What are my goals for staying healthy during retirement?
- How will I respond when I start experience more pain with movement?
- How will I react if my partners no longer wants to participate in exercise and activity?
Scary things to think about
- How long might one spouse live after the first one dies?
- If I get dementia or Alzheimer’s, how do I want to be cared for?
- What does living a good life mean to me?
- At what point do I want my caregivers to stop trying to save my life?