Hope Springs Eternal: Navigating Life as Newlyweds in Your Golden Years
While it’s never too late to enjoy the
pleasures of wedded bliss in your latter years, it’s important to remember that
you and your new spouse face different obstacles to those of a young married
couple. It’s not every night you can have a date at the ballpark, seeing the
World Champion Atlanta Braves or saying “LA Dodgers here we go”. Senior marriage is a
challenge but, with a plethora of life experiences backing you both, there’s
every hope that you can converge onto one path and have plenty of fun in the
process. About
Aging Parents has a few pointers on how to navigate your new life
together.
Find
the Right Home
Physical limitations are an inevitable part of
aging and it’s important to keep this in mind if you’re selecting a new home.
If you aren’t sure whether to rent or buy, consider the pros and cons of both options as they relate
to your lifestyle—it can be a lot of hassle purchasing a property if you like
to travel or think you might move again in the near future. On the other hand,
if you choose to make an existing property your marital home, This Old House
explains that it’s possible to modify this to provide improved accessibility
in the years to come.
Maintain
Your Property
Whether you’ve chosen to rent or buy your
home, it’s more than likely that routine maintenance will be needed from time
to time. To avoid potential injuries that may be harder to recover from as you
age, it’s best to contract a service provider to assist you with regular tasks
such as gutter cleaning.
Blocked drains can lead to flooding during
rainy seasons, so in order to avoid any potential catastrophes, ensure that
you’re dealing with professionals and vet the service provider of your choosing
by checking their ratings and reviews. Not only will a good contractor be able
to fix any existing problems, but they’ll also alert you to any potential
issues that may arise in the near future.
Combine
Finances
Your financial status in your latter years can
look vastly different from when you were in your 20s, so combining finances might be a little more
complex too. During this process, it’s advisable to double-check that your
insurance policies are up to date and that you’ve updated your emergency
contact details wherever necessary.
Whether you’ve retired already or intend on
doing so in the near future, Capital Group notes that you’ll want to be sure
that you are making wise financial investments that will cover you and your spouse
in the event of disability or serious illness. If the decision to move one or
both of you to a skilled nursing facility or nursing home should arise, have a
plan in place for this scenario as early as possible. This begins with
researching what facilities are in your area, then narrow your search by
visiting your top choices and asking about what services are offered.
Estate
Planning
It’s natural that you’ll want to include your
new spouse in your will so that they are taken care of in the event of unforeseen
circumstances. Contracting an attorney that specializes in estate planning
will make it easier to remain prepared for the future. Living wills are an uncomfortable but
necessary topic and talking about them will ensure that you and your partner
are on the same page when it comes to the sensitive matter. Since we cannot be
certain of when accidents or illnesses could happen, it’s vital to have these
conversations as early on in your marriage as possible.
Starting a marriage in your latter years can
feel like a wild adventure, but don’t forget to be mindful of the practical
things as you’re enjoying your new married life. Taking care of the
nitty-gritty details sooner rather than later will leave you with peace of mind
and a smoother shared tomorrow.
This
article is brought to you by About Aging Parents. For more information, contact us today!
Guest post by Millie Jones from SeniorWellness.info
Photo by Kampus Production via Pexels
Originally Published on https://www.aboutagingparents.com/
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