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28 • The Beacon May 8, 2025
Savvy Senior discusses where solo agers can find help
Dear Savvy Senior,
I’ m a divorced 68-yearold childless cat lady and have been thinking a lot lately about who will look after me when I get older and my health falters. What resources are available to solo seniors like me, and where can I turn to find a reliable person to be my emergency contact, as well as look out for my health, financial matters and living arrangements in my elder years?
Solo Ager
Dear Solo, This is a very common concern for the 22 million solo agers across the United States who don’ t have adult children or other family they can depend on to watch out for their wellbeing. Here are some tips and resources that can help you plan ahead:
Choosing helpers and decision makers
While older adults
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who have children or are married usually name offspring or spouses as proxies / decision makers, solo agers most often choose a sibling, niece or nephew or rely on a trusted friend or neighbor. Whomever you choose, talk to them first to make sure they’ re up for the task.
If, however, you don’ t have anyone you feel comfortable with or who is willing to take on that responsibility, you can hire someone.
One of the best resources for this is an aging life care manager. These are trained professionals in the area of geriatric care who often have backgrounds in nursing or social work and can serve as your emergency contact, oversee your care and even act as your executor. They also can connect you with professional legal and financial services in your area that can help you manage your affairs.
Aging life care managers typically charge anywhere from $ 100- $ 300 an hour, depending on their location and experience.
If you can’ t afford this, there are other reliable sources you can turn to for specific help. For example, if you haven’ t
Muskingum County Jeepers invite people to attend a back road ride on Saturday, May 17 to support Moving Mountains Ranch.
The entry fee is $ 10.
already done so, you need to prepare a basic estate plan including a power of attorney, advance directive and a will to ensure your wishes are carried out if you become incapacitated and when you die.
To help you prepare these documents, your best option is to hire an experienced estate planning attorney, which can cost anywhere between $ 500 and $ 2,000. He or she also may be able to act as your power of attorney or executor or help you locate a professional in your area who can.
To locate someone, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys( www. naela. org) and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils( www. naepc. org) have online directories to help you search.
If you need help with bill-paying, there are services like SilverBills( www. silverbills. com), or you can work with a daily money manager( www. aadmm. com) who, in addition to paying bills, can handle tasks like balancing your checkbook and organizing tax information. And to help you navigate care and senior housing options, there
Registration will begin at 11 a. m., and everyone will roll out at 1 p. m. There will be raffle items, a 50 / 50, door prizes and more.
The starting location is Moving Mountains Ranch, are certified senior advisers( www. csa. us).
It’ s also a good idea to meet with a financial adviser to help figure out what services and living arrangements you can afford and what steps you can take to ensure your financial resources last your lifetime. If you don’ t have an adviser, you can find a fee-only, fiduciary financial planner through the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors at www. napfa. org.
Some other helpful resources you can turn to include Aging Alone Together( www. dorotusa. org / agingalonetogether), a program offered by DOROT, which is a nonprofit social services organization that provides practical ways to help solo agers prepare for the future. They are offering a free six-session virtual workshop( offered weekly) via Zoom.
Also see Navigating Solo( www. navigatingsolo. com), a national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo-ager groups in the U. S.
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P. O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www. SavvySenior. org.
Jeep fundraiser is announced
23839 County Road 17, Coshocton. The ending location is Killing Tree Winery.
Bring your jeep and come see some Ohio scenery.
330-674-3806 www. millersburgelectric. com OH EL LIC 29165
BF-300997
Get the word out with The Bulletin Board!
jsellers @ alonovus. com