GETTING
BUSY
If you are a fan of the movie Shawshank Redemption that was released
in 1994, you may remember the line delivered by the character Andy
Dushane (Tim Robbins) to Red (Morgan Freeman) on the eve of Andy's
successful escape from prison. Stymied by the corrupt Warden's
pertinacity in keeping him incarcerated despite evidence that he was
falsely convicted of murder, Andy stated to Red that he had a choice
"Either he had to get busy living or get busy dying".
Despite the dreadful ordeal of his imprisonment, his twenty year plan and
eventual escape demonstrated a capacity on his part to think beyond the
walls of a hopeless and forbidden existence. He was determined to
reclaim his freedom despite the near impossibility of succeeding. He
took what was given to him and in the end was triumphant. It was a great
movie which embodied the never give up attitude with a thought provoking
ending.
You may ask the question as to why I chose to write about this movie's
notable quote and how it may have some relevance in how we forge through
through life. My answer is simple. We have choices on what path we
choose to take that could determine the quality on how we live our
lives.
From our younger years and through middle age, work, taking care of our
families, maintaining a healthy life style and in general meeting all
the challenges that life presents to us seemed to keep us so busy. We
were happy and and for the most part we could declare that life was
good. The years passed and all of a sudden we woke up one morning
realizing that we actually had retired, the children had left the nest
sometime ago, and that the annoying effects of aches and pains served as
a reminder that we had become older adults. For those that were beset
with illness and unable to to care for themselves, trying to continue
living a more meaningful life became more exhausting. Though we tried to
keep a positive outlook on what lay ahead in our future, in many ways
some of us gave up.
Excuses had begun to take the place for actions. In essence, we chose a
passive attitude in how we lived our lives. Could this not be considered
a passing of a life once filled with enthusiasm and purpose? Normal
aging and personal hardships may indeed alter certain aspects of our
lives. However, it should not deter our moral obligation to be
persistent in making the most of all the years God has given us. Get
busy enjoying the personal interests you use to have, make new friends
and challenge your mind often. As I stated earlier, we have choices that
determine the character of our lives in our more vulnerable years. The
good life is still before us just as Andy found out.
John Macauda Director/Saugus Office Geriatric Assistance Inc.
Providing Geriatric Home Care and Senior Services in the North Shore,
Merrimack Valley, and Southern New Hampshire
The Gift of Aging
The title of this
column probably has my readers wondering if I have lost my
mind. In a culture that venerates the joys and energy of
youthfulness, how could I possibly applaud the journey most
of us take as we transition toward our maturation and
beyond? What satisfaction could we possibly maintain as our
hair grays or vanishes, wrinkles appear where a once
flawless complexion graced the mirror, and let us not forget
the few extra pounds that changed the physical appearance of
our bodies?
Those that have suddenly found themselves in the
inveterate position of being physically challenged are
certainly no less happier. At this point, you are most
likely wondering how this gift that some associate with lack
of vitality and uselessness is manifested. In order to
perceive this notion, you must look beyond the most
formidable years as only a youthful lifestyle and appearance
can bring. Only then will you fully appreciate that aging is
a natural process not to be associated with fear and
apprehension.
Let me begin by quoting Aristotle. He said
" Happiness involves progress, it involves improving our
skills, getting better at what we do well, and learning
through experience". Now think back for a moment. Did we not
spend the first half of our lives trying to accomplish what
Aristotle identified with happiness? We were younger then
and of course had to wrestle with immaturity as well as
learning the hard way that speaking less and listening more
is a good guide to live by.
Oh my! Think of the precious time we wasted away
on trying to find ourselves. I think by now you get the
picture. Here we are, many of us are either approaching the
twilight of our lives or already there. Most of us have
discovered the meaning of happiness and how we got there.
Aging taught us how to use our time well and make better
decisions based on sound judgment and experience. The
enormous energy we spent for so many years in pursuit of our
ambitions has undergone some significant changes. Do we not
place a higher value on a more meaningful relationship with
our family and close friends? I certainly think that we do.
Surely, getting older means losing
some of our youthful strength and even having to depend on
others for help. However, we have learned that a sharp mind,
creative nature, and a zest to live becomes a lighting rod
to our children and grandchildren. We may not realize it,
but, they are observing us and at times wonder what will
they be like when their time comes. Without a doubt, we are
serving as role models and have an influence on those we
love the most.
If we did not age, our lives
would have no meaning, memories, or any true sense of
accomplishment. Aging allows us the opportunity to
experience the prominence of all three. A gift is an award
or special ability that is granted to an individual that has
done a good deed or achieved a milestone in their lives that
has been recognized by their peers. Value this gift that far
too many never had the good chance of receiving.
John Macauda Director/Saugus Office Geriatric Assistance
Inc.
Providing Geriatric Home Care and Senior Services in the
North
Shore, Merrimack Valley, and Southern New Hampshire
Benefits of Planning
My
Last two columns focused on long term care options and what
the costs might be for each. In addition, I attempted to
give my readers an understanding of the services and
benefits that Medicare and Medicaid provide as well as do
not provide when long term care issues suddenly become a
major concern. Remember that old adage "Failure to plan is a
plan to fail"? Perhaps we can apply this same inference to
an indifferent attitude that many of us have toward
preparing for any long term care possibilities as we age. A
blaring statistic that I obtained on a Health and Human
Service site stated that 70% of individuals over age 65 will
require at least some long term care services in their
lifetime. Over 40% will need care in a nursing home. Most
people purchase life insurance so that those left behind are
not burdened with debt and uncertainty. In my opinion,
preparing to meet long term care challenges both financially
and emotionally bares the same weight as obtaining a
suitable life insurance policy. Let's find out why.
Planning ahead on a basic level allows greater dignity and
control and independence on how future needs are to be met.
Having no options except what others decide for us can
compound the emotional upheaval not only for the person
involved but also family and friends . Therefore, avoiding a
discussion on the topic with those closest to you because of
its uncomfortable nature is probably one of the worst
decisions you can make. Nobody wants to think about getting
older, perhaps developing a disabling injury or disease that
makes us completely dependent on others. But, as I have
stated on numerous occasions in previous articles, aging is
a process with unpredictable outcomes.
Let us assume for the moment that you have accepted the fact
that having a plan to meet tomorrows care needs is a very
good idea. You should then focus on what type of care your
income and assets can actually support. Those with the most
money usually have more choices. Finding a good attorney
that can explain concepts such as health savings accounts,
reverse mortgages, asset transfers, and personal savings
will help you understand which options might be best for
your particular situation. Moreover, you may want to become
more familiar with the importance of designating someone as
your health care proxy or having a living will drawn up.
Another option to consider is purchasing long term care
insurance. Depending on your policy, this insurance could
help with services provided in continuing care communities,
adult day care, and assisted livings. As in any type of
insurance policies, read it very carefully and know the
scope of your coverage. Before committing to a plan, I would
consult with an attorney. The older you become, the premium
costs become more expensive. If you are a disabled veteran,
you may qualify for some long term care benefits. Call the
Veterans Administration and get the full details.
Again, Medicare does not pay for long term care and Medicaid
has eligibility restrictions. Remember that you are never
too old or for that matter too young to plan for your future
health care needs. I will end with a quote taken from the
National Care Planning Council that I believe will give you
cause for thought. "The failure of the current
pre-retirement generation to plan for long term care will
have an even greater future negative impact on our culture
and our families than the lack of planning does today".
John Macauda, Director/Saugus Office Geriatric
Assistance Inc.
Providing Geriatric Home Care and Senior Services in the
North Shore,
Merrimack Valley, and Southern New Hampshire
