The U.S. Census Bureau anticipates a never-before-seen boom in the nation's older adult population over the next several years. By 2030, there are expected to be more adults age 65 and older in the United States than ever before.

The aging of the Baby Boomer generation in America, or those born between 1946 and 1964, is so significant that it has been dubbed the "Silver Tsunami." As needs associated with aging increase, it is creating a new emphasis on the importance of planning for both one's estate and long-term care.

Despite this aging trend, the National Aging Coalition and AARP report that nearly 60 percent of older adults have no such plan in place and have not talked about long-term or end-of-life care with their loved ones.

Because of its forward-looking mission and high-quality services for older adults, Morning Pointe Senior Living is pleased to host Chattanooga attorney, aging advocate and author Nancy A. Cogar at two upcoming free community events. The first will be held at Morning Pointe of Hixson on Aug. 11 at 6 p.m., followed by a second event at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton on Aug. 27 at 6 p.m. Light snacks, dessert and coffee will be served at both locations.

The events are designed to give older adults and their caregivers, who are often family members, practical guidance on preparing for the future before these difficult decisions become a crisis.

Ms. Cogar is advocating for a new emphasis on strategic aging, and her new book, BoomerTime™ Blueprint: Navigating the Silver Tsunami through Caregiving, Planning and Crisis Prevention, provides step-by-step strategies to help people become prepared and stay engaged later in life. This includes both legal planning and practical planning to help shape how you live your later years.

"One of the hardest things we see is families having to make important decisions in the middle of a crisis," said Ian Shives, executive director at Morning Pointe of East Hamilton.

"Whether it's navigating healthcare decisions, understanding legal documents or simply knowing where to begin, planning ahead gives families more choices and greater peace of mind. That's why we're excited to partner with Ms. Cogar in emphasizing that such a plan should be specific to your own needs and cover everything from who makes decisions for you, if and when you cannot, to where you want to live and the type of care you want to receive all the way to the end of your life."

These strategies ensure that you not only have a plan personal to your circumstances but you have enforceable legal documents that will allow your trusted loved ones to make decisions for you if and when you cannot do that yourself.

"You have so many more options available to you and your family members, when you plan proactively," said Ms. Cogar. "Failing to plan and not having the basic estate planning documents, including but not limited to durable powers of attorney, wills and end of life directives, creates unnecessary expense and emotional crisis and can leave your loved ones without the authority to help during a health emergency."

Ms. Cogar, who is also the host of the podcast "BoomerTime with Nancy A. Cogar," has spent over a decade guiding local families through the legal and emotional complexities that accompany aging.

Through her newly released book, BoomerTime Blueprint, she encourages people to think beyond the basics by developing a comprehensive plan that prepares families for the realities of growing older.

America's rapidly growing older adult population is creating new challenges for families, caregivers and healthcare providers alike. Experts estimate millions of Baby Boomers will require increased support in the coming years, making proactive planning more important than ever.

Ms. Cogar said, "I am delighted to share in this event with Morning Pointe Senior Living, because they offer such a high level of care and serve as a great example not only here in Hamilton County, Tennessee but beyond."

Founded in 1997 by healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and J. Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living operates assisted living and Alzheimer's memory care communities in Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee. For more information, visit morningpointe.com.

The philanthropic arm of Morning Pointe Senior Living is the Morning Pointe Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides caregiver support programs and clinical scholarships to advance the care of older adults.

Event Locations:

Morning Pointe of Hixson

5501 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, 423-847-1370

Morning Pointe of East Hamilton
1776 Generations Way, Ooltewah, 423-212-1208