Paul Kusuda’s column
Long-term Needs as We Get Older
Long-term Needs as We Get Older
By Paul H. Kusuda
In January each year, some of us review what happened the previous year; we regret
some things, feel good about others, and wonder why some other things didn’t happen.
Usually, we hope the coming year will be better than the past and that the future will be better
for those we love as well as for those we don’t even know. One hope is that we learned
some things from the past and will use that knowledge to help us face the future.
To help us come to grips with what might be facing us in the future we really should plan
and organize to face whatever is ahead. Some of us need to watch how we spend our
income. Some need to put funds in savings to be used “when rainy days come.” It’s easy to
coast along and “let things some and go and take care of themselves.” We can’t affect the
In January each year, some of us review what happened the previous year; we regret
some things, feel good about others, and wonder why some other things didn’t happen.
Usually, we hope the coming year will be better than the past and that the future will be better
for those we love as well as for those we don’t even know. One hope is that we learned
some things from the past and will use that knowledge to help us face the future.
To help us come to grips with what might be facing us in the future we really should plan
and organize to face whatever is ahead. Some of us need to watch how we spend our
income. Some need to put funds in savings to be used “when rainy days come.” It’s easy to
coast along and “let things some and go and take care of themselves.” We can’t affect the
future,so what the heck, let it come. WRONG! If we don’t, someone else will take over, and we’ll have little or no control
over what we’ll have to face. The “rainy days” might be here already.
Those who enter the so-called “golden years” of retirement hope they’ll have enough assets and current income to
do better than just survive. They would like to live comfortably and with minimal financial worries. Unfortunately, such
hopes cannot be fulfilled for all. The fortunate ones are those who live in their own or rented home or have an
apartment they can afford.
As the fortunate ones age, they usually hope they won’t have to leave their current arrangements, friends,
neighborhoods, communities they’ve become so familiar with. Like some teenagers, they may figure they’ll live forever,
and that nothing ill will face them. Fiction or reality? Inevitably, change will come about, some slowly, others with a
bang.
Staying at home instead of moving to a nursing home when one gets old is a desire most have. Responding to that
feeling, health-related and social service agencies have developed many services and programs previously not
developed or available. Costs are obviously involved, and many cannot afford to pay the price. Nevertheless,
alternatives have been developed to help frail elderly and those with disabilities who want to stay put. In-home services
(nursing, physical care, handling indoor and outdoor chores, etc), in-home and institution hospice care, and other
programs are now available to thwart moving deemed too soon or not now but later, Financial programs are available
depending on the meeting of assets/income requirements.
The main point is that contingency plans should be made by the elderly or person with physical or other disability with
or without outside help before the need to move from familiar surroundings becomes necessary. Because so much
has been done to enable people to avoid the used-to-be only alternative--nursing home—planning for the future has
been postponed to “sometime in the future.” WRONG DECISION.
over what we’ll have to face. The “rainy days” might be here already.
Those who enter the so-called “golden years” of retirement hope they’ll have enough assets and current income to
do better than just survive. They would like to live comfortably and with minimal financial worries. Unfortunately, such
hopes cannot be fulfilled for all. The fortunate ones are those who live in their own or rented home or have an
apartment they can afford.
As the fortunate ones age, they usually hope they won’t have to leave their current arrangements, friends,
neighborhoods, communities they’ve become so familiar with. Like some teenagers, they may figure they’ll live forever,
and that nothing ill will face them. Fiction or reality? Inevitably, change will come about, some slowly, others with a
bang.
Staying at home instead of moving to a nursing home when one gets old is a desire most have. Responding to that
feeling, health-related and social service agencies have developed many services and programs previously not
developed or available. Costs are obviously involved, and many cannot afford to pay the price. Nevertheless,
alternatives have been developed to help frail elderly and those with disabilities who want to stay put. In-home services
(nursing, physical care, handling indoor and outdoor chores, etc), in-home and institution hospice care, and other
programs are now available to thwart moving deemed too soon or not now but later, Financial programs are available
depending on the meeting of assets/income requirements.
The main point is that contingency plans should be made by the elderly or person with physical or other disability with
or without outside help before the need to move from familiar surroundings becomes necessary. Because so much
has been done to enable people to avoid the used-to-be only alternative--nursing home—planning for the future has
been postponed to “sometime in the future.” WRONG DECISION.
In a couple of months, I’ll review some of the
ways society has developed and put into practice
ways in which people are enabled to avoid or put
off for a long time any move into nursing homes.
An unanticipated and unintended consequence of
meeting current needs is that many who should
plan for the future have been lulled in
complacency; programs have been enhanced
greatly in recent years to enable longer in-home
stays. However, the need for planning for the
future, though dampened, still exists. Time moves
on; we all get older, less able to care for ourselves
completely. When the inevitable hits, will the
elderly, with or without disabilities, be in a position
to react wisely? Is there a need now to review
alternatives? I THINK SO!
ways society has developed and put into practice
ways in which people are enabled to avoid or put
off for a long time any move into nursing homes.
An unanticipated and unintended consequence of
meeting current needs is that many who should
plan for the future have been lulled in
complacency; programs have been enhanced
greatly in recent years to enable longer in-home
stays. However, the need for planning for the
future, though dampened, still exists. Time moves
on; we all get older, less able to care for ourselves
completely. When the inevitable hits, will the
elderly, with or without disabilities, be in a position
to react wisely? Is there a need now to review
alternatives? I THINK SO!