Thanks to Hazel Bridges of Aging Wellness for this article.  https://agingwellness.org

Newly married couples of any age have many exciting things to look forward to when planning a life together even if you face a difficult medical diagnosis, such as Parkinson’s or dementia. While some changes can be slightly tedious, you make the most of them because you get to do them together. If you’re newly married in your golden years and starting to build your life together as a couple, here are a few things you should consider.

  1. Find a Home That Meets Your Needs

Merging lives requires many choices. For example, where are you going to live? Do you prefer to stay in one of your own homes? Maybe you’ve thought about selling and starting over in a new space where you can make your memories together. If you need to sell your current home, make sure you take all the necessary steps to prepare it for the market. For example, have it assessed for repairs, and make plans to renovate where it would increase the value of your property. Research shows that one of the best ways to add value is to remodel a dated kitchen and add a fresh coat of paint inside and out.

  1. Hire Help at Home When You Need It

When you find your perfect home and prepare to move in together, nothing puts a damper on the newlywed stage like dealing with maintenance issues. Hire professionals to handle laborious tasks. For example, taking care of a lawn can be strenuous. You can pay for lawn aeration services, such as fertilizing, dethatching, and weed control, to keep it healthy. Before you hire a company, check their customer reviews, and ensure they have the proper licensing and insurance.

  1. Think About Starting a Business Together

Many senior couples like to invest in a new business venture together. It’s a great way to get quality time, and it can bring in extra income. Working after retirement can be whatever you want it to be. You don’t have to have regular daytime hours. Also, if you want to improve your chance of success, start by creating a business plan. It should detail the purpose of your business, the products or services you plan to provide, how you will fund it, and your sales projections. Here’s a great start a business guide to show you how.

  1. Talk to Your Insurance Company

Marriage is one of the qualifying life experiences that allows you to change your insurance policy outside of open enrollment. Typically, you have two months to make changes to your policy or purchase a new policy. Talk to your insurance company and see what the best options are for both of you. You may find that it’s in your best interest to stay with your current policy and keep them separate. If either of you recently received a difficult diagnosis such as Parkinson’s or dementia, you may find a policy that better suits your needs.

  1. Keep Your Families Involved

Family dynamics change when someone gets married. Sometimes it can cause strain. However, if you keep your families involved in the process and aware of any changes you make, you can avoid many of those struggles. Just keep an open line of communication available at all times.

Finding love and marriage after a difficult health diagnosis may come with additional challenges, but it also comes with all the joys. Remember to appreciate all the little things as you take on the more difficult choices. Surround yourself with loved ones so you always know you have support throughout your journey as newlyweds.

NOTE:  

You will find my book Parkinson’s: A Love Story with Dementia for Dessert on Amazon.  https://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Love-Story-Dementia-Dessert-ebook/dp/B07K4RLC2D/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1542135434&sr=8-1&keywords=Parkinson%27s+A+Love+Story+with+Dementia+for+Dessert&dpID=41xS3edPH0L&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch  Your feedback and reviews are most welcome.

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