The Gift of Preparation

By: Cristian Ayon, Graduate Assistant 

In both my work and personal life, I’ve seen how aging—when unspoken and unprepared for—can quietly become a crisis leaving families overwhelmed. That’s why the upcoming SDSU Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity (CEAL) webinar stood out to me. The Gift of Preparation, hosted by gerontologist Jonathan Schwartz, is more than just a conversation about documents and care preferences, it is about reclaiming dignity and easing the burden on our loved ones when the time comes.

I’ve watched many families struggle with these same challenges. One family I remember vividly was made up of two elderly sisters who migrated to the United States back in 1963. Both were living with dementia while simultaneously navigating the complexities of the legal system. Rose, the younger sister, was seeking power of attorney to support her older sister, Daisy, who needed help managing her finances, housing, and benefits. I was surprised to learn how many types of power of attorney exist including; durable, medical, financial, springing, limited, and revocation. It was overwhelming, and I could only imagine how Rose felt navigating this alone.

With the help of Legal Aid, it was determined that a durable power of attorney was the best course of action. Daisy had to give up her home after her child deemed her unfit to live alone, but offered no alternative. Rose stepped in to prevent her sister from becoming homeless. Even with her love and determination, the process of transferring benefits, updating Social Security, changing addresses, and managing bills became an uphill battle. Both sisters relied on Section 8 vouchers to survive, that alone took several months to resolve. None of us expected the process to be so draining.

Over time, the stress of caregiving began to take a visible toll on Rose. Her Alzheimer’s symptoms worsened rapidly under the weight of her new legal and emotional responsibilities. It was heartbreaking to witness. Rose, a widowed 78-year-old woman who had lived independently for the last 20 years of her life, was suddenly losing her cognitive footing. In a painful twist, Daisy became Rose’s caretaker. It was both beautiful and sorrowful to see them leaning on each other in their final years. Despite having grown children they had no close friends in the U.S., only each other.

The U.S. legal and healthcare systems are meant  to protect the vulnerable, but I often wonder if they’ve become too complex to navigate alone. I watched a once-spirited, sharp-minded woman become overwhelmed and diminished by the pressure of doing everything “right.” I truly believe if there had been a guide, a plan, a conversation, Rose’s decline might have been slower, less traumatic, more humane.

Preparation is an act of love. It is how we give clarity to our loved ones in the moments they will need it most. Whether you are a caregiver, an aging adult, or someone thinking ahead, this is your opportunity to take that first step. 

I’ll be attending the webinar on July 24th from 2:00 to 3:00 PM (PST), and I hope you will too.

This free webinar offers compassionate, step-by-step guidance for anyone ready to take control of their future, or help someone they love to do the same. It goes beyond surface-level planning. We’ll learn how to start meaningful conversations about care preferences and prepare critical legal and medical documents like wills, advance healthcare directives, HIPAA release forms, and trusts. These documents do not just protect assets—they protect peace of mind.

For anyone who wants to avoid crises, preserve autonomy, and support their loved ones with grace and clarity, this is a conversation worth having. Because aging is inevitable, but chaos does not have to be.