Published in the Arizona Republic, January 2026
Many of us look to the new year as a fresh beginning – with a wish, a commitment, or a plan for change. Something feels out of alignment, and we want to do something about it. And any time we decide to make a change for the better, that’s a good thing, isn’t it? I certainly think so, especially if we’re going to intentionally follow through. Technically, we don’t need a calendar change to begin, but a new year offers a definitive starting point that helps us feel accountable. So, what did you decide upon, if anything? Who do you want to be this year? And do you have the umph, the energy and commitment, to make it happen?
What if we looked at things a bit differently? What if we shifted our outlook and our verbiage to the positive instead of focusing on ‘righting’ a negative? Another way to say this is choosing to be proactive in our lives rather than reactive. Instead of berating ourselves for what we’re not doing, let’s simply get some of our proverbial ducks in a row, whatever that looks like, for you.
Much of my work with clients is crisis management. Something unexpected comes up and we have to deal with it. Yet often, what we didn’t anticipate is something we could have prepared for but didn’t, mostly because we hoped it wouldn’t happen. And we all know the things we push aside and bury often come back to torture us. Hope isn’t a strategy, is it?
If we focus on controlling what we can, I promise you that when life’s bumps appear, they’re never quite as bumpy. We had a plan; we prepared; we were as ready as possible. Here are a few areas that tend to trip people up when the unexpected happens – whether it’s an illness beyond a simple cold or flu, or a normal aging experience that suddenly knocks us down:
Make a dated list of your medications. Keep a copy in your wallet, your partner’s wallet, and share it with your power of attorney (POA). Know whether Medicare is your primary insurance or if you have an Advantage Plan. Make sure the same people have this information and access to your card—every emergency room visit requires it.
Get your legal documents in order and update them if they’re more than five years old. They need to be Arizona specific if you are a resident here. Confirm your powers of attorney and have an honest conversation to be sure they’re comfortable with what you may need. Talk with your bank to confirm they accept your financial POA. Add backup contacts, beyond your spouse, to your HIPAA (privacy) paperwork at each doctor’s office, and be sure your specialists communicate with your primary care physician.
Share health changes with your family or circle of love. Discuss what you’d want if you hoped to stay home but were told it’s no longer safe. In trying not to burden our kids, we sometimes leave them blindsided by diagnoses they weren’t prepared for. Sharing what matters to you and how you’d ideally like things to go provides an invaluable map when the road gets unexpectedly rough.
Move your body. Exercise is the single most important thing you can do for your brain and body. Talk with your doctor to check in if this is new for you and ask about physical therapy if needed. Chair exercises from the internet count. Walking is fabulous. You don’t need to spend money to benefit. Drink more water, it lubricates every organ and function in your body.
These are just a few items, but important ones. Most aren’t hard to tackle. It simply takes a desire to be proactive about your own life, respect for those who may care for you as our systems begin to fray, and an open mind about who you’re becoming as age and illness inevitably bring change.
By Elaine Poker-Yount
Elaine Poker-Yount is an Aging and Dementia Care Educator/Specialist at Successful Aging AZ. Her columns are featured monthly in The Arizona Republic.
