PERSONAL NOTE

Hello Carol,

The topics of solo living and aging alone are gaining momentum in the news. Just a few years ago, 2017 and 2018, a few colleagues and I worked very hard to get the word out about the solos' unique needs.

We've gained attention, but what's next?  

1. A life plan

2. A support network of experts who can help

Life Plan

Finances is the core of life planning, but there's more. Clients need education and training on how to think holistically. 

For instance, "when your partner dies—everything changes everything. One still lives in the same house, but everything about that may be different. Your daily habits—like when you eat and what you eat—change. How you spend your time changes. Your social identity changes. Your community changes. When you’re no longer part of a twosome, that may change how you fit into other people’s lives. Who wants to think about "aging alone and growing older? You are forced to reinvent yourself at a time when your capacity to do that is severely compromised."  Margaret Moore

Aging Alone Challenges Encountered (to name a few)

• Loss of additional financial resources 
• Handling expenses on a sole income
• Loss of personal support 
• Life purpose alters

Despite the trauma, shock, and grief of losing one's partner—eventually, one must move on and create a new life. But how?  

Support Network of Experts 

No matter the loss, it's a critical time. That's when the support of friends and family and plenty of time to adjust and heal, is crucial. So is building a trusted team of experts who can help the newly single person through the uncomfortable territory.

Critical experts to know:

• Financial Advisors
• Estate Planning Attorneys
• Grief counselors/therapists

Other experts and resources to know:  

• Care managers
• Money managers
• Patient advocates
• Home helpers
• Community resources for transportation, social events, support and help.

ARTICLES

How My Partner's Death Led Me to Become a Financial Services Professional by Margaret Moore

How to Find Experts Who Can Help

COOL RESOURCE

When living alone and wanting a simple tool that gives peace of mind, try SnugSafe. I've been using it for five years and found it easy to install and set up. I'm an affiliate. Use the the code SOLO10 when signing up for a subscription—get 10% off the fees. For me, the free version is all I need right now.  Check out SnugSafe here.

Testimonials of Snug users:

"I’m a retired RN who is living alone at the age of 85. Altho I am very active, I still worried about something happening to me. My children also. The children and I are more relaxed knowing someone will be contacted if I don't check in." Great G’ma Gene

"The comfort of knowing that someone would know to worry about me before it was too gruesomely late means I can finally fall asleep at night. I'm so incredibly grateful for this app and its developers. I'm a healthy 38 year old, but I live alone, work from home and for myself, and have a tendency to go days without responding to calls & texts. I'm so flighty in communication that no one would be alarmed if they didn't hear from me for days... which is where my insomniac panic attacks kicked in."

I hope you enjoyed the newsletter. Stay tuned for more!

Take care and remember to reach out and connect with me to learn more about my services. 

Carol Marak

Virtual Coffee Chat with Carol 

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