Grand Plans: November 21, 2024
A semi-monthly newsletter from Grand Plans designed to normalize and celebrate our glorious geri-destiny through information, stories, real talk conversation, smart planning and shared experience.
Things I’m prattling on about today
One of my suggestions in Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps is to engage your brain in contingency planning by challenging yourself to think, “what if?” long before the “after-if” happens. That way, you’ll be prepared to handle emergencies instead of fumbling through them when they sneak up on you — which, by the way, is how these things usually happen. “What-if?” is an easy game to play, not to mention it’s FREE and everyone’s a winner. Here’s an example round: “What if… I trip and bust a** wriggling into my running tights and break a hip — where in this two-story house am I going to recuperate, who’s going to help me and how much is that going to cost?” There’s no right or wrong answer, you get points for just thinking about it. Fun, right?
Even more fun is playing the what-if game with AI on your team. The brain power! My current partner fave is Microsoft’s CoPilot, though ChatGPT is a worthy contender. Both will be the brain you need to sharpen your thinking for optimal grand-planning excellence. Co-Pilot, however, gives you sources for more information, which is helpful.
I thought it might be fun to run some juicy “what-if?” prompts through CoPilot to answer some of the questions I get a lot from fellow grand-planners. I think you’ll enjoy being a spectator. But even more so, I know you’ll enjoy being reminded of this resource as you ponder your own grand-planning concerns.
Without further ado, welcome to the “What-if?” game with AI! (Because it’s all WTF? or WTH? without AI, isn’t it?)
Grand Planner prompt: What if I am a 75-year-old female living off of her Social Security income in my own home without any savings, life insurance, long term care insurance or family support nearby and I have been diagnosed with dementia. What legal steps and long-term care planning should I take now to protect myself?
CoPilot’s What-If? answer:
I’m really sorry to hear about your situation.
Legal Steps:
Power of Attorney (POA): Designate someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf. This can help manage your finances and ensure your bills are paid.
Health Care Proxy: Appoint a trusted person to make medical decisions for you if you’re unable to do so.
Living Will: Document your wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care4.
Guardianship/Conservatorship: If you’re unable to make decisions, a court can appoint a guardian or conservator to manage your affairs.
Estate Planning: Create a will to specify how your assets should be distributed after your death.
Long-Term Care Planning:
Evaluate Care Options: Consider different types of long-term care, such as in-home care, assisted living, or nursing homes. Each option has different costs and levels of care.
Explore Financial Assistance: Look into programs like Medicaid, which can help cover the cost of long-term care for eligible individuals.
Community Resources: Seek out local resources and support services that can provide assistance and guidance.
Advance Directives: Ensure your advance directives are in place to communicate your wishes for medical care.
Yes! The answer is a little vague, and I wish there had been some more discussion about the fact our faux what-iffer is a homeowner and that she’d probably be needing to access Medicaid, but whatever. This is a good start! I call that answer a W for this Grand Planner and her smart teammate. Let’s try another one:
Grand Planner prompt: What if I am a divorced 80-year-old man living alone in the house I own in Florida with near my three adult children and I am in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. I do not have a will, power of attorney, healthcare proxy or trust documents and I am unable to manage my own affairs. What will happen to me?
Co-Pilot’s What-If Answer: I’m really sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It’s important to take steps to ensure your affairs are managed properly and your wishes are respected. Here’s what might happen and what you can do:
What Might Happen:
Guardianship/Conservatorship: Since you don’t have a power of attorney or healthcare proxy, your children may need to petition the court for a guardianship or conservatorship to manage your affairs1. This process can be time-consuming and may require ongoing court supervision2.
State Intervention: If no one steps in to help, the state may appoint a guardian to manage your affairs, which might not align with your preferences.
Financial Management: Without a power of attorney, your children would need to go through legal proceedings to manage your finances3.
Steps to Take:
Consult an Elder Law Attorney: An attorney specializing in elder law can help you create the necessary legal documents, such as a power of attorney, healthcare proxy, and living will4.
Create a Will: A will can specify how your assets should be distributed and can help avoid potential conflicts among your children.
Long-Term Care Planning: Explore long-term care options, such as in-home care, assisted living, or nursing homes5. Consider Medicaid and other financial assistance programs that can help cover the costs67.
Communicate with Your Children: Have open conversations with your children about your wishes and the legal steps you’re taking. This can help ensure everyone is on the same page and reduce potential conflicts.
Now this one is GOOD. Real food for thought here. And it’s the cold hard facts: if you do not have your legal documents in place before you have a cognitive emergency, you could find yourself as a ward of the state. That is no joke. This is why even the bare minimum grand-planning is so, so important.
I hope you are hooked on playing the “What-If?” game with AI as much as I am. It’s something to do instead of watching bad reality television or murder shows. It’s critical thinking and will help you one day! If nothing else, this is your reminder that when you have questions about how to approach your unique, very personal real life what-if scenario, AI can be an effective resource for finding the answers. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
News you can use
All the cool kids are open to AI, according to this study at least. “The survey found that 20.9% of respondents were open to AI therapy — surprisingly, 45.3% of them are over 45. This statistic contests the assumption that digital advances are primarily for younger, tech-savvy folks.”
Though, when it comes to healthcare information, older adults aren’t having it. “About 74% of middle-aged and senior Americans wouldn’t trust health information that was generated by artificial intelligence, a poll from the University of Michigan and AARP finds.”
There’s no doubt an embrace of technology helps older adults remain independent longer, this article underscores.
Put the AI, IG and FB in some fabulous grand planning! Make sure you’re connected to Grand Plans on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn) so you don’t miss a thing! GerontoloGeeWhiz! is the latest little ditty out there on the line. Enjoy!
And you can keep up with all the “GeronTOKogy” fun by following MyGrandPlans on TikTok. This is new territory for me so be patient!
Shelf life
I have not yet read this book, The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values by Brian Christian, so I have no idea how good it is. BUT, it comes highly recommended from the New York Times, which earlier this year posted a list of essential books for learning more about artificial intelligence. Maybe one of the other books listed there has better appeal, check it out!
And of course, it’s also smart to remember to order a copy of Grand Plans and the Grand Planner for all your friends. Let’s hold each other accountable?
Some golden gedunk and goods
Get yourself another few copies of Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps and the Grand Planner for all the people who like getting gifts in your life! Visit www.mygrandplans.com for links to purchase on Amazon.
And… Check out our Grand Plans merch in our Etsy storefront.
