What’s the average American’s life expectancy? Take your guess… According to the CDC, in 2018 life expectancy for women was 81.2 years and 76.2 years for men. Now few of us want to think about the end of our life, let alone plan for it. However, having your financial and health information organized and your wishes clearly communicated is one of the best gifts you can give your loved ones.

Many people plan to arrange their affairs when they’re retired. Others say they will when they are “older” and some people haven’t thought about it at all.  Planning AHEAD, a new UW-Madison Division of Extension series, helps adults of all ages begin the process of end-of-life planning in a non-judgemental, supportive environment. 

Amy Mangan-Fischer, Human Development and Relationships Educator, is pleased to be able to bring Planning AHEAD to Fond du Lac County residents. “End-of-life planning can be extremely overwhelming and Planning AHEAD helps make it manageable. It is exciting that we are able to offer this class at no cost to participants.”  

The fall Planning AHEAD series will take place over seven virtual Zoom sessions, meeting Tuesday evenings, October 4 –  November 15 from 6:30-7:30pm. Participants will receive a packet to help guide them through creating a manageable step-by-step plan. This course is FREE to participants, but class size is limited so that all participants can have a quality experience.

Amy Mangan-Fischer, Carol Bralich, and Jane Jensen (Extension Educators from Fond du Lac, Washington and Sheboygan counties) will guide participants through examining health care wishes, financial responsibilities, estate planning, legal requirements and documentation, distribution of personal property, end-of-life decisions, dealing with grief, and the emotional ramifications of all of the above. 

Don’t wait until you’re “older” to begin your end-of-life planning, enroll today!