International Stress Awareness Week is held every year during the first full week of November. It exists because stress is more common than most people admit and more manageable than most people realise. For older Australians and the families who support them, one of the quietest and most persistent sources of stress is the future. Questions about money, health, housing, decisions and purpose sit in the background, rarely spoken aloud, often carried alone. This week is a good reason to name them and a better reason to do something about them.
The Five Worries You Can Take Off Your List
Each worry below maps to one of the four pillars of ageing well. Each comes with a simple, practical first step you can take this week.
Money and Future Costs
Financial uncertainty sits near the top of the list for most older Australians. The questions are familiar. Will savings last? What will care cost if health changes? Is it still realistic to stay in the family home?
These are reasonable questions. The problem is not the questions themselves but the absence of a place to put them.
First step: Write down your income sources, your assets and your likely costs over the next five to ten years. Note which questions need professional input. That list, rough as it might be, is the beginning of a financial plan and the end of carrying it all in your head alone.
Financial uncertainty is the most common later-life stressor. Most of the weight comes from questions with no home. A simple list shows what you have, what you may need and which questions need an expert.
Your first steps at a glance
Money and Future Costs
Write down your income sources, your assets and your likely costs over the next five to ten years. Note which questions need professional input. That list, rough as it might be, is the beginning of a financial plan and the end of carrying it all in your head alone.
Three Daily Habits That Help
A plan gives structure. These three habits give it staying power.
Sleep
Sleep quality often changes as we age, but its importance does not. Consistent sleep and wake times, a cool and dark room, and limiting screens in the hour before bed are practical starting points. Talk to your GP if sleep has become a persistent problem.
Movement
Daily physical activity supports mood, cognitive function and independence across all stages of later life. It does not have to be structured exercise. A daily walk counts, and counts for a great deal.
Connection
Regular social contact is one of the strongest predictors of wellbeing in older age. A weekly call, a community group or a standing commitment with a friend can make a real difference, particularly for people living alone.
None of these require a plan. They require a habit.
Try it now
One minute of calm
Follow the circle. Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4, hold for 4. Stop if you feel dizzy, and breathe normally.
How Planwise Helps You Plan
A worry circles. A written plan gives you somewhere to look. And when life changes, as it does, the plan adjusts with it.
Planwise Australia works with older Australians and the families who support them across all four pillars of ageing well. Those pillars cover your Financial and Legal needs, where and how you live, your Mind and Body, and your sense of Purpose. One plan, one point of contact. You are not handed a list of strangers to find your way through alone.
Planwise's advisors are independent and do not earn commissions. They help you understand your options, build a plan that fits your life and stay alongside you as circumstances change. When things change, you will not be starting from scratch.
The first step is a free, no-obligation discovery call.
Your plan starts here
A free discovery call takes 30 minutes and gives you a clear starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with what you already know. Write down your income, your assets, your health situation and your current housing. Then identify the questions you cannot answer on your own and find the right support for each one. A Planwise advisor can help you bring it all together into one clear plan.
Most people benefit from addressing the legal and financial foundations first. Good starting points are a will, an enduring power of attorney and a clear picture of income and outgoings. Everything else builds from there. If you are unsure where to begin, a Planwise discovery call will help you prioritise.
No. The earlier you put plans in place, the more options you have. Many people begin their later-life planning in their late 50s or early 60s, well before they need aged care or formal services. Starting earlier gives you more time, more choice and more control.
The first conversation is free. Planwise offers a no-cost discovery call so you can understand what planning with Planwise involves and whether it is right for your situation. Ongoing fees depend on your circumstances and the level of support you need.
Yes. Planwise works with families as well as individuals. If you are supporting an ageing parent, navigating care decisions across siblings, or simply trying to get everyone on the same page, a Planwise advisor can help the group move from conversation to plan.
Still have questions? Book a discovery call