Only 32% of U.S. adults have created a will, according to Pew Research Center — but that number climbs sharply with age: 66% of people in their 70s have one, and nearly 80% of adults 80 and older have both a will and a living will or advance healthcare directive. Every October, National Estate Planning Awareness Week reminds families across the country why estate planning matters — though honestly, it’s worth thinking about any time of year.
What Estate Planning Awareness Week Is About
Estate planning is often misunderstood as something only wealthy families need. In reality, it’s simply the process of documenting your wishes — for your finances, your property, and your medical care — so that the people you love aren’t left guessing during a difficult time. National Estate Planning Awareness Week (observed every October, adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008) exists to encourage exactly that: a little bit of paperwork now, in exchange for a lot less stress later.
The Core Documents Every Family Needs
- A will. Spells out how you’d like your assets and property distributed, and can name guardians if that’s relevant to your family.
- A durable power of attorney. Names someone you trust to manage your finances if you’re ever unable to do so yourself.
- A healthcare power of attorney (or healthcare proxy). Names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t communicate them yourself.
- An advance directive (living will). Documents your wishes for end-of-life medical care, so your family isn’t left making guesses during a crisis.
- A HIPAA authorization. Allows your designated decision-makers to actually access your medical information when they need it.
None of these documents require a crystal ball — just a decision about who you trust and what you’d want, written down while you’re able to make that decision clearly.
Why So Many Families Wait
Pew’s research also found that estate planning adoption is closely tied to income: among adults 70 and older, 83% of higher-income respondents have a will, compared to 51% of lower-income respondents. Cost and access to legal help play a real role — but many families also simply put it off because the conversation feels uncomfortable, or because it’s easy to assume there’s more time than there is.
The encouraging news: most families who do have these conversations report having them successfully. Among adults 65 and older, roughly two-thirds have already discussed their medical and end-of-life wishes with their adult children — proof that these conversations, while hard to start, tend to go better than expected.
How This Connects to Long-Term Care Planning
Estate planning and long-term care planning go hand in hand. A durable power of attorney and healthcare proxy matter most in exactly the scenario long-term care planning asks families to prepare for: a time when a loved one needs help making decisions about their own care. Handling both conversations together — who will help make decisions, and what kind of care and support you’d want — gives your family one complete picture instead of two separate, disconnected plans.
Practical Next Steps
- Make a list of the documents you already have — and the ones you don’t.
- Set up a conversation with an elder law attorney or estate planning professional.
- Talk with your family about who you’d want making decisions on your behalf.
- Store your documents somewhere your family can actually find them when needed.
Planning ahead is one of the most caring things you can do for the people who love you. If you’re weighing how a senior living community fits into that bigger picture, the GLSC family is always glad to help you think it through.
Sources: NAEPC — National Estate Planning Awareness Week; Pew Research Center — Experiences with Estate Planning and End-of-Life Preferences