When the time comes in later life where big changes are bound to happen, many seniors find themselves concerned. Here are some common questions seniors face:

• What do I do when I can no longer adequately take care of myself or my property?
• Will I outlive my pension and savings?
• Will I need to rely on the government or my family to assist me?
• What does the government or organizations offer seniors who wish to stay at home as long as possible?
• What if my family is incapable of caring for me?
• Where will my money and assets go when I pass away?
• Who will make decisions for me if I become unable to make them myself?

 Getting professional help can save seniors and their families from suffering through uncertainty and lack of planning and preparation. We spoke with Ellan Dickieson from Senior Transitions Made Simple in order to bring you some great info you can use to help plan your transition to your next step in life. This information is based around Sean's podcast discussion with Ellan. Check out the full podcast here:

Seniors need to be empowered to make good decisions around their later life. As a registered social worker and an accredited financial counsellor, Ellan has taken her experience over the last plus decade and put it into a business that serves not only seniors but the senior's families.

Successful transitions are best when planning starts early. Young seniors, say, those in their early 60s and 70s, to start making a plan, and learn exactly what is available to them in the years or decades to come. This means seniors should sit down with various professional advisors, and children, and have discussions until everyone is on the same page.

Speaking with a financial adviser early on is key. Despite so much of senior's lives being dependent on their available resources, many seniors haven't had the best financial advice.

Who is responsible for initiating the process?

Ideally, it is best for the senior to initiate the process themselves. But after a life of independence it can be hard for some seniors to take action before things become overwhelming. Children may see a decline in a parent, and wonder what they can do to help, and what comes next.

The children of seniors may want to weigh in on their parents' choices, especially when it comes to housing, but should keep in mind that this is still their parent's decision, unless they are given power of attorney. They can offer support and advice but should not take over the reigns completely; it needs to be a joint effort. Children need to respect their senior parent's wishes while at the same time providing input when needed.

What are some major challenges seniors can face?

• Accessibility
• Housing
• Home maintenance
• Yard work
• Cleaning
• Bathing (getting in and out of the tub safetly)
• Health
• Access to recreation
• Cooking
• Financials
• Proximity to family
• Access to resources
• Transportation

What are some programs available to help seniors?

• Lambton Elderly Outreach
• Meals on Wheels
• Victorian Order of Nurses
• Red Cross Sarnia
• Lambton Seniors Association
• Shine at Home Sarnia

How can seniors be empowered to age in place?

Accessibility

Consider the accessibility of your home as you age. Let's look at an example. Say there is a senior woman who over time can no longer make it up and down the stairs by herself. She has a half bathroom on the first floor, but the full bathroom's on the second floor. At the end of the day you're gonna have a scenario potentially where she almost never gets to bathe as she'd like to. 

We need to consider how to make sure the place seniors live is supporting a high quality of life. In this example, it could mean getting a stair lift or downsizing to a single floor home. This requires planning and budgeting. We need to think about what could happen, and plan accordingly. 

There are more and more people within the construction design industry/architects who specialize in accessible builds and accessible buildings. If building is an option, their services can help you be proactive about accessibility. 

Falls Prevention

The statistics are not good for seniors who fall, which is why we want to do everything possible to prevent falls as as a person ages. This means first removing tripping hazards like rugs and cords. During snowy months, stairs can become icy and dangerous, and this means we need to make sure someone is clearing them. In bath tubs you'll need anchored grab bars. Railings should be checked and ensure they are intact. Using a walker is another great way to prevent falls.

Get Social and Get Active

Physical activity combined with social activity is one of the most powerful ways seniors can stay healthy mentally and physically. These both translate into seniors being capable of independence and higher quality of life.

There are great programs in the community that allow seniors to thrive together. For example, seniors can exercise and play games together at the Strangway Centre, do group classes at the YMCA, or ever use local meetup groups to do something as simple as going for walks down the Howard Watson Nature Trail.

Getting to these social gatherings can be a challenge for seniors who may no longer be able to drive themselves, so transportation is also really important. 

LEO, or Lambton Elderly Outreach and the Red Cross both do transportation, and Care-a Van has wheelchair accessible transportation. Sarnia alone has over 20 churches, with many who offer transportation to church, events and for personal help.

Granny Pods

Life expectancy is extremely high and this means seniors run the risk of running out of savings. Retirement homes can be expensive, and not every family can afford $3,000-$4,000 a month. An option becoming more and more popular is making use of "granny pods". A granny pod or ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a detached living space on the property of a single-family home. 

Some families may opt to build a granny pod on their property, and let their parent(s) live there. This allows them to maintain a higher level of independence, as granny pod are often single-level and have less square footage.

This means maintaining the space becomes easier, and accessibility becomes less of an issue. Eventually, as loved one pass, the granny pod can be used to house children who want a little more space, guests visiting from out of town, or it can even be used as an income-generating unit for renters.

If a family member is willing to build a you should ideally have some capital or cash to put into building or renovating a granny pod.

Look to Other Cultures

North Americans are one of the few cultures in the world where it is exceedingly rare to have multiple generations living under one roof or property. We can look to some of these other culture who share housing out of necessity, and learn from them how to make it work.

 How can kids ensure parent safety stress-free?

If families are unable to stop in and check on their senior parents daily, there is a great service here in Sarnia locally through the Family Counselling Center, the Telecheck Program. They will call seniors every day and if nobody answers over an extended period then they would contact the family. So, that's a completely free service that anybody can access.

If friends and family can check on the senior, they can join a caregiving circle. So, whether it be their friends their neighbours their family, try to make sure that somebody is touching base with them every day.

Another option is seniors consenting to let their kids install a camera in their home, especially in areas where they will spend a lot of time. And if you're concerned about a fall or a crisis in their home alone you can always get the Phillips Lifeline or similar products.

Downsizing

Downsizing can make life a lot easier for seniors. But if children are the ones making the suggestion for their senior parents to downsize they shouldn't be pushy, or tell their parents "you have too much stuff, just get rid of it!" That approach is never well received. Instead, prioritize identifying and preserving important items. Think family heirlooms or important things that have stories attached to them (i.e. great great grandmother's vase).

Once the family treasures are identified it can help to sort objects into three categories:

1. Things you use daily
2. Things you use weekly or bi-weekly
3. Things you rarely use or need

The rarely used objects can be stored, sold, or given away with the owner's permission. The weekly object can be looked at and see what is really essential, and the daily used items can be kept. 

What are some essential actions seniors need to take?

Essential Documents: Everyone needs to have a will drawn up and both kinds of power of attorney in place. These ensure your money goes to the people you want, and allows someone to make decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated.

Advance care planning establishes the kind of health and personal care you would want in the future if you're unable to speak for yourself.

Funeral plans are best made early on, before illness or incapacity take hold. This way the wishes of those who depart are met. Some may opt to have a reserve of money set aside, so loved ones can worry less about money and celebrate the life of their loved ones more.

Financial Planning needs to happen, and as always, the earlier the better. Regardless of age that's the first thing to do. There are people who are going to retire in two years and they have no idea what their pension is going to be. This is setting yourself up for failure. You need to dig into those numbers and really have a good idea of what your budget will be on a monthly basis.

Housing is the next thing is look at your housing. Is it sustainable? Is it affordable? Do modifications need to be made? Have an accurate assessment of your housing situation.

Know your resources and how long your resources can sustain you, because that's going to determine your housing options. It's going to determine where you age, and your health care options.