The future has never felt more uncertain, with the unstoppable passing of time perhaps the only inevitability remaining in our topsy-turvy lives. But how do you find reassurance and stability in an increasingly chaotic world? Some do so by making moves to future proof their finances, others invest in smart technology for their home, hoping they can automate themselves into immortality.
But more recently, there has been a movement – some call it faddish, others call it forward-planning – to future proof yourself in order to give you the best possible chance, health, home and finance wise, in the years ahead. Wondering exactly how you might do that? Here are 7 ways to future proof your later life and ensure your final years are as golden as possible.
Stop Making These Health Mistakes
We all do foolhardy things when we’re young, things we know are bad for us. Who didn’t used to drink a little too much, party a little too hard, go sunbathing doused in tanning oil and eat the occasional Happy Meal?
However, according to Health.com “health and lifestyle errors can sneak up on you in midlife and, next thing you know, a routine checkup finds your blood pressure’s up or your blood sugar’s out of whack.’’
They go on to caution that “If you’re not using 40 as that check-in point and that turnout time, those issues will start compounding, leading to chronic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes”. Potentially prescient stuff, indeed.
Some of the key health mistakes Health.com advise you should stop making by age 40 include…
Not making sleep a priority – Lack of sleep can increase your risk of hypertension, stroke, and obesity. Moreover, “there’s evidence that being sleep deprived promotes biological aging’’, which makes us look older than we are.
Binging on alcohol– Alcohol also can make certain age-related health problems much worse over time, having an accumulative effect on the body as we get older.
Flossing – Gum disease often appears in our 30s and 40s and has been linked to heart problems.
Missing meals – Skipping meals can mess with your metabolism and set you up for type 2 diabetes.
Having the odd cigarette – Quitting before age 40 slashes the chance of premature death from smoking-related diseases by 90%.
Eating excessive amounts of salt – Too much of it can lead to hypertension, a major cause of heart attack and stroke.
Ignoring health signs and lying to your doctor – They say that “Since health issues become more prevalent as we age, even little white lies may pose a danger to your health”.
Skipping weights at the gym – Bone-building strength exercises can lower the risk of brittle-bone disease. Keeping fit shouldn’t only be about cardio.
Stay Mentally Active
Did you know that being active and maintaining a healthy weight boosts longevity by more than seven years?
Though the importance of exercise can’t be stressed enough, it’s just as crucial that we look after our minds as we age. Cognitive decline is one of the most concerning aspects of getting older. As life expectancy rises, the rate of dementia follows suit. According to a report by The Guardian “Dementia is the biggest health crisis of our time, experts have said, as statistics show the condition was the primary cause of death in England and Wales last year.”
While staying mentally active won’t make you immune to the disease, it can reduce the probability of its early onset. As such, we owe it to ourselves to keep our minds active and alert as we get older.
Crosswords and Sudoku, in particular, have long been believed to improve memory and cognitive function. Though the evidence isn’t actually conclusive on how much they help the brain, it should be noted that the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation encourages regular crossword puzzles as a means of protecting the brain, citing a study done by the University of California which found that ‘’the more often someone engaged in mentally stimulating activities, the less buildup of beta-amyloid they were likely to have in the brain’’. That beta-amyloid is a toxic protein which can build up in the brain and cause issues with memory. Fascinating stuff.
What’s more, a study in the Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that increased playing of sudoku (and also crosswords) led to better brain function in the over 50s. Of course, puzzles aren’t the only way to stay mentally active; learning a new language, taking up a new hobby and keeping in contact with friends can all keep your mind sharper, too. Speaking of which…
Stay Social
While that morning crossword or Sudoku puzzle may well help keep the cogs turning, experts suggest that sleep, socialising and exercise are far more effective tools in your arsenal if you’re looking to sharpen up your mind.
Socialising, in particular, can have huge benefits to those entering their golden years. According to Age.co.uk “having close ties to friends and family, and participating in meaningful social activities, may help people maintain their thinking skills better in later life and slow down cognitive decline. People who are socially engaged seem to have a lower risk of dementia, but the evidence is not yet strong enough to draw firm conclusions.”
There are lots of things you can do to cultivate new connections and stay social, such as joining a club, class or social group to meet new people, or engaging more deeply with your community through charitable organisations and volunteering opportunities.
Cashing In Your Chips
In the journey of life, it’s essential to not only plan for our present but also our future, and a crucial aspect of that is ensuring our final years are as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
One often overlooked but crucial strategy for achieving this is investing in funeral insurance. This simple act can significantly ease the emotional and financial burden on our loved ones during the difficult period following our passing.
Funeral insurance provides us with the peace of mind that everything will be taken care of according to our wishes. Indeed, an over 50 funeral plan allows us to fully enjoy our twilight years without the nagging worry of leaving our loved ones with the responsibility for our final arrangements.
By prioritising funeral insurance as part of our comprehensive future-proofing plan, we take a proactive step in securing our dignity, relieving emotional strain on those we care about, and ultimately ensuring our final years are as golden as possible.
Know What You’re Entitled To
As you get older, you become eligible for all sorts of discounts, deals and state-sponsored support programmes. Many are facilitated by the government, and these include pension top-ups, help with meeting the cost of energy bills and free or, at least, heavily discounted travel.
Of particular pertinence, you may also be entitled to free home adaptations and equipment from the NHS which includes handrails for stairs, grab rails for the bathroom and more.
But sometimes, this diversity can be confusing. There’s a danger that as we age, bureaucracy, form filling and understanding of the complexities of such support can get tougher. As Which.co.uk highlight, “The crucial thing here is that more often than not you have to remember actively to claim them, as millions of UK consumers fail to do so, missing out on valuable income”.
Though it’s not exhaustive, you can check Gransnet to see what discounts you might be entitled to, or search for the ‘Saga Guide to Over-60s Perks’, which comes in a handy PDF printable leaflet.
Alternatively, Money Magpie have compiled a useful list of Benefits for the over 60s which details many of the discounts and benefits available here in the UK.
Adapt The Home
Forward planning and foresight shouldn’t be reserved for the physical and financial self. You can also future proof your home to ensure that later down the line, it’ll be a pleasant place to retire.
Your home should be as adaptable as possible to accommodate the inevitable yet unpredictable lifestyle changes that the passing of time brings. Should you be playing the long game, then particularly important is to consider the concept of ‘Aging in Place’ and making your home more livable for your golden years.
This is all about investing in design features that will allow you to remain in your home through the course of your life, meeting the demands of ageing adeptly and adaptively. That’s not to say you should install features which cause an eyesore. Fortunately today, even the most functional of items, including handrails and slip-resistant surfaces can become stylish architectural features. Should mobility be an issue about the home, instead of a standard stairlift, many now choose to install lift, which is visually less obtrusive and can be made to look stylish and succinct with the rest of your decor.
If you’re considering aging in place at a more micro level, then you should consider the location and height of any home appliances, plug sockets, and cupboards when renovating. Having these things positioned higher, preferably at hand or at eye level, will reduce the need to stoop and bend.
Finally, install windows that are easy to manipulate and don’t require physical effort to open. If giving your home a thorough refurbishment, give thought to the positioning and size of your windows, too – windows with a view are so important as you age and offer comfort and reconnection in times of crisis.
Read: 5 IDEAL home modifications that may help you in later life
Look After Your Pension
When you’re young, the last thing on most people’s minds is making provisions for retirement. Doing so brings an acceptance that we’re getting old, and even worse, that this whole thing is finite. Not many young people want to think about that.
Most of us aren’t saving for our pension, but we should be saving up a retirement pot, that’s for sure. Make sure you’re enrolled in your workplace pension scheme and check your contributions record for a state pension. If you put more in your pension, there’s less chance you’ll despair when you’re older.
But don’t get too het up, according to this positive pension article, a 40 year old needs to put only £40 aside every week to live comfortably in old age. Our idea is to put £20 a week in your twenties, £30 a week in your thirties and so on.
However, we’re not pension experts, so if you’re confused about the finer details, then contact the Pensions Advisory Service helpline.
And with this sterling advice under your belt, fancy making provisional plans to meet up when we’re 100?