Taking charge of your future

It’s a new year – a time when many people make resolutions to improve their health and pay more attention to the things that really matter in life.

University researchers are conducting a study on how people plan ahead for medical, financial and other decisions. They are recruiting people aged 65 years and older who live in regional NSW – starting with Wauchope and South West Rocks – to take part in the study.

The research team – including health researcher Dr Amy Waller from the University of Newcastle, and Law Professor Nola Ries from UTS - want to learn more about how people prepare for the future and how advance planning can be improved, especially in regional communities.

Having good plans in place brings peace of mind, knowing you are better prepared for major life changes.

Professor Nola Ries

“Having good plans in place brings peace of mind, knowing you are better prepared for major life changes. It also reduces stress and worries for your loved ones,” says Professor Ries.

“Unfortunately, many people are not as well prepared as they could be. Legal documents made years ago might be outdated; relationships and life circumstances might have changed; values and goals for the future might have shifted.”

The study, which is funded by the Australian Research Council, will last for two years and participants complete a 20 minute questionnaire at the start of the study and again in 12 and 24 months. Educational resources on advance planning will also be available to participants.

"Thinking about what matters to you as you get older, have you made plans for your healthcare, finances and living arrangements? These plans can include making a will and choosing people you trust to help make decisions about managing money or medical care,” says Professor Ries.

“Legally, people have the right to plan for their future and to have their wishes known and respected. But even when people have done some planning, the documents can often be improved to better protect their legal rights.”