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Life Planning

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While important for every adult, planning for later stages of life is critical for older adults. Later life planning includes estate, funeral, advanced care, long-term care, and more depending on your family (e.g., a grandparent raising a grandchild). Unfortunately, many people often neglect these planning activities until a crisis occurs. The consequences of delaying these decisions cannot be overstated. For example, long-term care is complicated and costly. Without proper planning it may be difficult to get the care you prefer in the location of your choice (e.g., house, apartment, assisted living, nursing home, etc.).

All Life Planning Content

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Older Adults

SDSU Extension provides education and resources for older adults and their families.

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Purposeful Retirement Book Club Facilitation Guide

A curriculum that can be used to facilitate a purposeful retirement book club in a community.

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Conversations that Matter: Advance Care Planning for Rural Families

Advance care planning is an important topic and is often discussed in small group settings. We have provided the tools to help you successfully lead a small group event to help teach others about advance care planning.

child and an older man planting flowers in a raised garden bed

Housing Across the Life Span: Consumer knowledge, preferences, and barriers

The goal of this study was to understand perceptions of aging in place and identify next steps to remove barriers to successful aging in place.

Retired couple sitting on a park bench overlooking a bluff.

Retirement Tips: Surviving the First Year

Retirement is one of the most important transitions a person will experience during their life. A little forethought can really help a person reconcile their new identify as a retired person.

Older woman and her granddaughter smiling while they pose for a picture.

Dementia

Dementia is an umbrella term to refer to cognitive impairment of various types that interfere with a person’s day-to-day function. Researchers project that half of the adults over the age of 85 will be impacted by some form of dementia.

Filling in an advance health care directive form.

Advance Care Planning for Rural Families

Did you know that only one out of every three South Dakotans have filled out an advance directive? Check out this article to learn more about preparing your own advance directive.

Mother and daughter reviewing paperwork at kitchen table.

Seven Planning Tips and Reminders

Planning for care and end-of-life is overwhelming. This content may help you prioritize activities around planning for these eventualities in your life.

Daughter reviewing paperwork with parents.

Advance Care Planning

Not sure where to start when putting together an advance care plan for your loved ones? Learn some key considerations to get the conversation started.

Home health care specialist visiting with an older female adult.

Long-Term Care Planning

From assisted living to home health, learn some important tips for deciding which long-term care options best fit the needs and budget of your loved ones in their later years.