Planning for the inevitable can be a confronting and baffling area, and easy to put in the too hard basket for now. It’s something most of us don’t want to think about.
We don’t know when death comes knocking, but we can certainly put many things in place so you can have peace of mind. Planning ahead can also avoid potential conflict.
This free online series from OWN is presented by family lawyer Alice Mantel, elder law specialist and author of Every Woman’s Guide to Retirement, together with Amanda Armstrong, producer. They will take you systematically through what you need to organise, from writing a will, family conversations, and how to approach the dreaded task of decluttering, etc.
This practical and reassuring series will break down the steps and give you tips to approach planning for the unexpected in a positive and proactive way.
Episode 1
Why Your Will Is An Emotional Document
In the first episode, Alice Mantel explains why your will is both a practical and emotional document, why you should think about your funeral now, and how to choose trusted people to be your executors, and take on the power of attorney for you. We’ll give you the steps and things to consider as you plan to provide peace of mind while you are in control.
Watch now, on YouTube:
Episode 2
All about Swedish Death Cleaning or Decluttering for Beginners
Have you attempted to declutter your home? You’ll know it’s a daunting task, especially the challenge of letting go of your once valued possessions. Learn about the various methods designed to make the process easier – from Marie Kondo and her ‘spark joy’ test, to the gentle art of what’s called Swedish Death Cleaning. While there is no perfect process, there are some useful tips to help you unburden and live more lightly.
Watch now, on YouTube:
Episode 3
How is your financial health?
It’s never too late to get on top of your personal finances, especially now when so many financial transactions happen online and we need to budget even more carefully to deal with the cost of living. In this episode, Alice Mantel runs through some financial basics aimed at putting you in control of your financial health.
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Episode 4
Suddenly Single
Through death, divorce or a partner requiring nursing home care, we can find ourselves suddenly single. In this episode, Alice Mantel guides us through the practical steps towards adapting to this momentous life change, encouraging us to keep and develop our social connections to enhance life as a single person.
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Episode 5
Caring for Elderly Parents
Are you caring for an elderly parent? You’ll know it can be challenging from both a practical and emotional perspective. In Episode 5, Alice Mantel looks at what’s involved in caring for an ageing parent, including navigating changing roles, and the complexities of the aged care system. Amanda Armstrong will speak to Maria Lamari who has found tapping into memories can be a positive experience for parent and adult child.
Watch now, on YouTube:
Episode 6
Planning for the Unexpected: Finding Your Forever Home
If you own a home that seems too large and hard to maintain, have you considered downsizing? Join Alice Mantel, author of ‘Every Woman’s Guide to Retirement’ and special guest Jane Caro for the final episode of Planning for the Unexpected, where we discuss the pros and cons of the big move to something smaller. Jane recounts why and how she decided to downsize, and some of the unexpected emotions it evoked.
Watch now, on YouTube:
Alice Mantel
Alice is a former lawyer and an experienced professional legal writer.
She has a deep interest and understanding of women’s issues and wrote Every Women’s Guide to Retirement as a comprehensive guide to managing post-retirement challenges.
Consequently, Alice has given many talks to community groups about retirement and elder law.
Amanda Armstrong
Amanda had a long career at the ABC as a radio producer and manager before deciding to resume tertiary studies in history.
She has a particular interest in oral history and works closely with the Older Women’s Network promoting the rights of older women.
She’s currently the Coordinator of OWN’s Theatre Group.
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