Most people think of retirement as a chance to relax and have fun. They envision endless days of golf, cruises around the world and watching as much television as they wish. There’s no work, no school, no responsibility involved. In reality, this is only part of the picture. Once most people reach retirement age, their bodies begin to slow down a bit and take on medical issues. Instead of staying home watching TV, retirees often find themselves going to endless doctors’ appointments, taking several different types of medications, having surgery occasionally and watching their dietary intake. Time and money often seem disorganized and taxed. Rather than having endless fun, it can be stressful and financially taxing. Getting organized with medications, doctors’ appointments, insurance and healthcare providers is one way for retirees to have a more joyful retirement.

Appointments

Staying organized is the key to enjoying the golden years. A digital calendar is one way to keep better track of appointment scheduling. It should be brought to every medical appointment. The chances of having to come back again in a few weeks or months are usually strong, so the new appointment information can be entered into the device at the time. That way, the senior will not forget to input it later or add it to a manual calendar at home. Another way to get organized with a digital calendar is to reserve only one or two days per week for doctors’ appointments. There should be a chosen day of the week for preferred appointments, and a secondary day that should only be filled if the time is booked on the primary appointment day. The rest of the week should be reserved for family, friends and fun. Allowing about two hours per appointment on these days this will help the retiree feel less like their life is spent at the doctors’ office and leave more time for enjoyment and recreation.

Healthcare Providers

When possible, one geriatric specialist should be the senior’s main healthcare provider. Any specialists for medical ailments will likely need a referral. One option is to choose a specialist in the same medical center as the other doctors and healthcare providers that the individual sees. This will cut down on travel time when appointments are scheduled on the same day. Using retiree medical insurance is also helpful to have when Medicare does not cover all of the surgeries, therapy, tests, medications and doctors’ visits. Another option is to choose a doctor that takes Medicare and hope it is all covered. Seniors medical insurance is often the bridge between Medicare and paying out-of-pocket for expenses. This is perhaps the result of a strong healthcare plan when the retiree was working. It may also be something new that was added after retirement.