Playing the ‘What If’ Game Like Your Life Depends on It – And It Does!

Games are the best – they sharpen our brains and help us strategize and connect with others. Plus, they’re fun! While planning for our Golden Years is not a game by any measure, playing “The What If?” game can help all older adult players prepare for its pitfalls and devise realistic contingencies.

The Basics of the Game

“The What If?” game is for one or more players and requires no game pieces, boards, cards or timers. In fact, you don’t even need to keep score or play with other people. You can play it solo or while sipping cocktails with your favorite longtime friends. There are really no rules to “The What If Game,” except to be honest with your answers.

The game’s alluring purpose is to consider possible scenarios that may occur in their senior lives and respond to the proposed challenge with realistic, workable solutions. For example, my question might be, “How will I remain independent if I can no longer drive?” A winning answer to this question might be, “Uber!” So, there we have it.

The Benefits of the Game

“The What If?” game is a fun and practical way to rewire our brains to accept the new realities of getting older – including how we will mitigate some of the challenges, pay for them, and change our lifestyles to accommodate them. This planful thinking is articulated with much more scholarly authority in Dr. Roxanne Leipzig’s bestselling book, Honest Aging: An Insider’s Guide to the Second Half of Life (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book).

In it, she includes a very helpful chart that addresses Aging in Place (Table 18.1). In this exercise, Leipzig features a column of activities, including things like housework, laundry, cooking and home repairs, and challenges the reader (presumably the older adult) to fill in the blanks under the columns “Who Does This Now?,” “If You/They Couldn’t, How Could You Get This Done?” and lastly “Who Would Do/Arrange/Pay for This?”

While not a game, this charting exercise is extremely helpful for thinking through the realities of older age’s little hiccups so we can be better prepared to manage them.

Getting AI’s Answers

If you are not a reliable or honest answerer for “The What If?” game, there’s even better news for you. The advancement of artificial intelligence has made it easy – and revealing – to answer these tough questions on your behalf. I’ll show you what I mean.

I opened up ChatGPT and asked it the following “What If” game prompt:

What if I am in my 70s living in my home and I have a stroke and am unable to drive or get around my home unaided?

ChatGPT’s Response:

“If you’re in your 70s living at home and you have a stroke that affects your ability to drive or move around your home independently, it will likely necessitate additional support and adjustments to your caregiving plan. Here’s how your situation might change and how it could impact your costs:

Increased Care Needs

Following a stroke, you may require more intensive care, including assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, toileting, and mobility. This may increase the number of hours of caregiving required per day, potentially leading to higher costs for in-home care.

Home Modifications

Depending on the extent of your mobility impairment, you may need to make modifications to your home to improve accessibility and safety. This could include installing grab bars, ramps, stairlifts, and other adaptive equipment. These modifications can incur additional expenses upfront but may reduce the risk of accidents and improve your quality of life in the long run.

Transportation

Since you’re unable to drive, you’ll need alternative transportation options for medical appointments, grocery shopping, and other errands. This could involve hiring transportation services, using ride-sharing apps, or relying on family members or friends for assistance. Transportation costs should be factored into your overall budget.

Rehabilitation Services

After a stroke, rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy may be necessary to help regain lost abilities and improve functional independence. These services may be covered by health insurance, but copayments, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses can still add up.

Caregiver Training

Caregivers may require additional training to assist you effectively after a stroke. This could include learning techniques for safely transferring you, providing assistance with mobility aids, and recognizing signs of complications or emergencies. Training costs should be considered in your budget.

Given these factors, the costs of aging in place after a stroke with increased care needs and mobility limitations could be higher than your previous estimates. While it’s challenging to provide an exact figure without knowing your specific circumstances, it’s essential to reassess your caregiving plan, budget, and resources in light of these changes. Consulting with healthcare professionals, social workers, and financial advisors can help you navigate these challenges and ensure that you receive the support you need to age in place safely and comfortably.

You can play this game all day long AND brush up on your technology savvy while embracing new tools. It’s really a win-win for everyone. Preparing for aging and our Golden Years requires serious thought, planning and acceptance of a great many new realities. This is hard work and sometimes thinking about it can be depressing or inspire anxiety. But by playing “The What If?” game and being open to and familiar with opportunities to overcome challenges in the future, we can all feel a little more prepared for the end game.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How do you get your mind prepared to handle some of the unforeseen situations of senior living? How are you and your family preparing for this season of life? What prompts can you think of that would be helpful in mitigating future challenges?