Thrive and Save

Preparing for old age.

Start to prepare early – don’t leave it to the last minute. It comes quicker than you think!

Financial planning

• Save and invest early. By building retirement savings through consistent contributions to savings or investment accounts. Even small, regular deposits can add up over time.
• Reduce any debt: Try to pay off loans and credit cards before retirement to reduce financial stress. Focus first on debt with high interest rates, keep a realistic payoff timeline, and avoid taking on any new unnecessary credit as retirement approaches.
• Income plan: Consider what pensions, social benefits, or part-time work you can/will have to maintain financial stability.

Health and wellness

• Stay or get active: Regular exercise is great for your mobility, strength, and mental health. Aim for around 150 minutes each week.
• Try to eat well, as a balanced diet helps prevent chronic illnesses and keeps your energy levels up.
• Schedule regular checkups as early detection of health issues improves long-term outcomes.
• Avoid harmful habits, try to limit alcohol, quit smoking and manage stress levels.
• Prioritise your mental health by engaging in activities or hobbies that keep your mind active and help maintain social connections. This could include reading, puzzles, learning a new skill, or joining a club.
• Stay connected and maintain relationships with family, friends, and community groups. Make an effort to schedule calls or visits. Or consider volunteering, as this is a good way to meet new people, learn new skills, and help you reduce feelings of isolation.

Legal and administrative preparation

• Create your essential documents by preparing a will, power of attorney, and healthcare directives, and keep them in a safe place that a trusted person knows about.
• Organise your important records. Keep financial, medical, and legal documents in one secure place. Having them in one place makes them accessible to you or your family in times of need.
• Review your insurance coverage. Make sure you have enough health, life, and long-term care insurance.

Safety items

• Keep safety items in a place where you can easily get to them. For example, a first-aid kit, a torch, etc.
• Make sure you have a working smoke alarm on each level of your home.
• Keep emergency contacts and any medical information easily accessible. Maybe use a magnet and stick it to your fridge?

Living arrangements

• Make sure you have good lighting, both natural and artificial. This can help you see better and reduce the risk of falls. Consider installing motion sensor lights in hallways and bathrooms to help you at night.
• Keep all your walkways clear. Keep clutter off the floor and check that your rugs are secure by using rug tape or rug grippers.
• Think about reducing the amount of furniture you have if it restricts your movement.
• You can also buy furniture sliders that you place on the bottom of your furniture, and this reduces the strain on your back when moving furniture.
• Make sure you can get to items that you use regularly easily without bending or overreaching.
• If decluttering, always use proper ladders or a step stool. Don’t try to lift heavy boxes on your own. Ask someone to help or reduce what is in the box and make a few trips. It’s better to take your time than to rush and end up hurting yourself.
• If your mobility isn’t great, then in the bathroom, install grab bars near the toilet and in the shower. Use non-slip mats to stop slipping on any wet surface. In the shower, include a shower chair to help with bathing.
• Make sure your entrances are clear and install handrails if needed.
• In the kitchen, install pull-out shelves for easy access to your things.