What a person in their 50s living alone should really be afraid of isn't money
"Will I have enough money for my old age?" When you think about that,
don't you ever wake up in the middle of the night?
The 20 million yen problem, inflation, the uncertainty of the pension system. Every time I watch the news, my anxiety builds up, but I don't know where to start, so I just focus on saving money for now.
I was the same way.
I started NISA, increased my defined contribution pension, and installed a household account book app. I have been preparing for my finances little by little. But then, I suddenly realized something.
I was so worried about money that I hadn't thought about anything else.
What is truly scary about living alone in old age
is actually not just money.
Today, I will write honestly about the "preparations"
that I want to prioritize over talking about money.
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■ Preparation 1: I want you to check your "emergency contact" right now
This is sudden, but let me ask you.
If you were to collapse right now, who would be contacted?
If you are single and living alone, this question is surprisingly difficult to answer. Your parents are already elderly or have passed away. You are estranged from your siblings. You have no children, or they live far away.
A name to write in the emergency contact column doesn't immediately come to mind.
I thought about this seriously when I was about to write an "emergency contact" on a medical checkup questionnaire. I held my pen and stopped for a while.
"In an emergency, who would act for me?"
No matter how much money you have, it is meaningless if there is no one to notice when you collapse.
I realized that this is the first and greatest risk of living alone in old age.
First, what you can do today. Please try asking a trusted friend or acquaintance, "Could I use your name as an emergency contact in case something happens?" It takes courage to ask, but you will find that the person you ask is often surprisingly willing to accept.
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■ Preparation 2: "Friendships" are the greatest asset that money cannot buy
Regarding the risk of loneliness in old age, there is data like this. Multiple research results have reported that loneliness has a negative impact on health equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
When I first read this, I was honestly horrified.
When you reach your 50s, your friendships change naturally. Friends who got married prioritize their families, and some people become distant due to job transfers or moving.
I think many people realize that the number of "people I can easily contact" has decreased.
For me personally, when I had a major turning point a few years ago, it was my long-time friends who supported me. There was a sense of security there that money could never buy.
Friendships will naturally fade if you don't consciously nurture them.
What you can do right now is send a message to a friend you haven't contacted in a while. Just asking about their recent life is fine. That alone will start the relationship moving again.
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■ Preparation 3: Investing in "health" is also saving on old-age expenses
A lot of the money
spent in old age goes to medical and nursing care costs.
The 20 million yen problem is a hot topic, but if you look closely at the breakdown, medical and nursing care-related expenses account for a large proportion. Conversely, if you can stay healthy for a long time, the money you need will be significantly reduced.
Investing in health is also saving for old-age funds.
What I am actually conscious of. I never miss my annual health checkup, I get regular dental maintenance, and I continue the habit of walking.
These are all modest things, but this accumulation
will shape who I am 10 years from now.
Teeth, in particular, are a blind spot. Many dental treatments are not covered by insurance, and if left untreated, they become expensive. Moreover, if your teeth get worse, your diet will be restricted, your nutritional status will collapse, and it is said that the risk of dementia will also increase.
"Managing the body before managing money." This is my current priority.
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■ Preparation 4: Write down "your own will"
This is the thing that is most easily put off.
If you suddenly lose consciousness, do you want life-prolonging treatment? How do you want your assets to be handled? What about your funeral?
Have you told anyone?
In the case of living alone, there are increasing cases where people end up hospitalized or dying without having told anyone their wishes. In that case, hospitals and government agencies will have trouble responding, and things may proceed in a way that the person does not want.
I don't think an ending note is "preparation for death."
I think it is a tool to "decide your own life until the end."
Commercially available ending notes can be bought for around 1,000 yen. You don't have to fill it all out. Just writing down your "emergency contact" and "wishes for life-prolonging treatment" makes a huge difference.
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■ Preparation 5: Have multiple "places where you belong"
Finally, I feel that this is the preparation that is most effective over time.
"A place where you belong" is not just about your physical home. It refers to communities or relationships where you feel you "can be here."
If your workplace is your only place to belong, your place to belong becomes zero the moment you retire. If your family is your only place to belong, you will become isolated when that relationship changes.
It is better to have multiple places where you belong.
Hobby groups, local connections, online communities, and relationships with readers born through your posts. All of these are wonderful places to belong.
The reason I continue to post on note and SNS
might be because I want to connect through words
with someone in a similar situation to "me, a 50-year-old living alone by the sea."
Nurturing places where you belong in parallel with financial preparations. I believe this will become the "mental safety asset" for old age.
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■ Summary
Things to prepare for a solitary old age,
there are 5 things when organized.
⚫︎ Check your emergency contact
⚫︎ Consciously nurture friendships
⚫︎ Continue investing in health
⚫︎ Write down your own will
⚫︎ Have multiple places where you belong
Financial preparation is important. I believe that NISA and defined contribution pensions should be continued.
But even if you have money, if you are lonely and unhealthy,
you cannot call it a rich old age.
I strongly feel now, in my 50s, that resolving "financial anxiety" and preparing the "foundation for living" are things that should be advanced in tandem.
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【One thing you can do today】
First, please try sending one message to a trusted friend. Just asking about their recent life is fine. A single word like "How have you been lately?" is enough.
That small action will be the first step in nurturing your "greatest asset" for old age.
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※ This article is based on my personal experience and thoughts. Please consult a professional regarding medical, legal, and asset management matters.