"Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers explores the path ahead for solo agers and presents us with a comprehensive guide for retirement planning. Through stories and personal examples, retirement expert and founder of LifeEncore, Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, describes choices in housing, relationships, legal arrangements, finances, and more--and urges solo agers to plan for the future as though their life and well-being depend on it--because it will!"--Back cover.

Chapter 1. Introduction -- Part I : Preparing for the future. Chapter 2. Child-free : pioneers of a generation -- Chapter 3. The role of adult children in the life of an elder. Emotional support -- Residential decisions, real estate transactions, and help with moving -- Investments and other financial decisions -- Legal representation -- Bill paying and handling money -- Medication management and help with the activities of daily living -- The social network -- Part II : Enjoying the second half of life. Chapter 4. Happiness and satisfaction -- Chapter 5. Financial security -- Chapter 6. Good health and physical well-being -- Chapter 7. Self-awareness, meaning, and purpose. Values clarification worksheets -- Consider your legacy -- Leaving a legacy worksheet -- Chapter 8. Adaptability and flexibility. Change and adaptability quiz -- Chapter 9. A strong social network. Relationship evaluation worksheet -- Thinking about relationships NOW -- Chapter 10. A belief system larger than yourself. Six keys to a fulfilling older LifeRating worksheet -- Chapter 11. Making an income in later life -- Part III : Deciding how and where to live. Chapter 12. Avoiding loneliness and isolation -- Chapter 13. Privacy, autonomy, and independence -- Chapter 14. Defining your most important criteria -- Chapter 15. The early options. Retirement communities -- Active adult communities -- Cohousing communities -- Home sharing ; Intentional communities -- Continuous care retirement communities (CCRCs) -- Cultural specialty communities -- Chapter 16. Stranger in a strange land : moving to a different country. Evaluating criteria for living outside the US -- Chapter 17. Aging in place. The village movement -- NORCs (naturally occurring retirement communities) -- Part IV : Ensuring comfort and care in your oldest age. Chapter 18. The trajectory of aging -- Chapter 19. What will we need? -- Chapter 20. Financing the care you need. Long-term care insurance -- Personal assets -- Medicaid -- Chapter 21. Options for receiving care. Continuous care retirement community (CCRC) -- Assisted living communities -- Board and care homes -- Nursing homes -- Chapter 22. Documenting your preferences for care. Advance health care directive -- Power of attorney for finances -- Last will and testament -- Revocable trust -- Long-term care plan -- Ensuring a secure future -- Finding a younger support system -- Hiring a professional -- Creating a planning kit -- Avoiding "elder abuse" -- Chapter 23. End-of-life choices -- Chapter 24. Conclusion. A final checklist and guide for your planning.