Preparedness
The pillar most people want to skip.
Preparedness is the pillar with the paperwork. Wills. Powers of attorney. Healthcare directives. Insurance. Emergency contacts. The folder nobody wants to open.
I avoided it for years. I told myself I’d get to it after the holidays, or when things slowed down. They never slowed down. And when my husband was hospitalized for two months, I realized I had “some things” but not a plan. I had a pile of paperwork I couldn’t find and a list of names I couldn’t remember under pressure.
Here’s what I’ve come to believe about Preparedness. It isn’t about death. It’s about protecting the people you love from having to make impossible decisions in the middle of the worst day of their lives. Everything I write in this pillar is about making those decisions easier to find, clearer to act on, and less likely to require guessing. Start wherever you want. Just start.
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Latest in Preparedness
articles updated at least weekly
I Thought We Were Prepared. Then My Husband Was in the Hospital for Two Months.
We had wills. We had medical directives. We had an executor. Then my husband was in the hospital for two months and I learned that “prepared” has two parts — and most people only have one.
Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults: A Room-by-Room Plan
Most emergency preparedness advice was written for a 35-year-old. Here’s a room-by-room plan designed specifically for older adults who want to stay in their homes.
The One Question That Reveals Whether You’re Really Prepared to Age in Place
One question cuts through the noise and tells you whether you’re actually prepared to age in place — or just assuming you are. Here’s what it reveals.
How to Start the Conversation With Your Parent About Their Future Plans (Without It Feeling Like a Fight)
You know the conversation needs to happen. Here’s how to start it in a way that actually works, what to say, what to avoid, and what success actually looks like.
The Medication List That Could Save Your Life (And How to Build One in 20 Minutes)
Every ER nurse and paramedic says the same thing: the medication list is the document they wish every patient had. Here’s what goes on it and how to build one in 20 minutes.
What Is a Healthcare Proxy, And Why You Need One Before You Think You Do
A healthcare proxy is the person who speaks for you medically if you can’t. Here’s what it is, how it’s different from a power of attorney, and how to choose yours.
The 5 Documents Every Adult Over 55 Needs (And Most Don’t Have)
I used to tell myself I'd get around to this. The problem with "getting around to it" is that you never know when "around to it" is actually too late. I learned that the hard way. I'm not going to tell that story here. I've told it before, and I've told it long...
Planning Ahead Isn’t Giving Up. It’s the Most Loving Thing You Can Do for Your Family.
Someone asked me once why I spend so much time on this. Isn't it depressing? Doesn't it just make you think about getting old? I said no. Not planning is depressing. Planning is what gives you your life back. I want to talk about that. Because I think the reason most...
I Was the Person Who Said ‘I’ll Deal With That Later.’ Here’s What Changed My Mind.
This is the article I wish existed three years ago, before someone I loved faced a crisis their family wasn't prepared for. That someone was me. The crisis was my husband's two-month hospital stay. And the family that wasn't prepared was mine. If you've ever told...
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A body that keeps you independent. Balance, mobility, and the habits that protect both.
Community
The people you can actually call. The village most of us have to build on purpose.
Technology
The tools that quietly make independence easier, without taking over your life.