Find Your Decision-Making Style

Whether you plan out every minute or always wait until the last minute, there is still time to create a positive aging experience. Find your decision-making style and get ready to take the next—or the first—step.

Planners

Also known as “advance planners,” these older adults research alternatives and plan for retirement while they are still healthy. While everyone approaches decision making differently, planners tend to perform exhaustive research with a clear goal in mind—whether that is aging in place or moving to a retirement community. 

Many planners eventually become second—or third—generation retirement community residents. They saw first-hand what a good experience their parents or other loved ones had at a retirement community, and they work to ensure that they can enjoy the same experience. 

Procrastinators

They are “not ready yet.” From their perspective, retirement is years—maybe even decades—away. Many people put off retirement planning because they are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the decisions or because they simply do not want to deal with the realities of aging. 

Procrastinators fall into two distinct categories: 

• Reluctant Consenters – These procrastinators are pushed by loved ones to make a change. Often, a loved one notices a decline in the person’s physical or mental health or ability to function independently. 

• Wake-up Call Decision Makers – These individuals often abruptly 

change their living arrangements or quickly plan for their retirement following a near crisis. These events frequently do not lead to serious injuries, but they serve as the wake-up call that is necessary to push procrastinators to action. Often, this event is a fall. 

Scramblers 

Scramblers are procrastinators without intervention. Scramblers have never thought about senior living and never discussed a plan with their loved ones. Then, one day, everything changes. 

After a serious injury or illness, scramblers are forced to plan during a crisis. Oftentimes, these older adults and their loved ones must make difficult and expensive choices under extreme duress. 

It is not uncommon for the children of a scrambler to become planners. They have seen what happens when you wait, and they want to avoid becoming a burden on their own children.