Steve Schroeder, 81, of Leland considers himself a semi-native North Carolinian, having moved here from Minnesota over 40 years ago. He stays active through his part-time job as an asset protection team member at Walmart, and by indulging his passions for art collecting and writing stories and poetry.
A divorcee with no children, he understands the challenges of caregiving and healthcare planning firsthand. He cared for his parents and was his mother’s primary caregiver for four years as she battled Alzheimer’s disease before passing away.
“That experience gave me serious pause when I thought about my own future,” said Schroeder, “I did have a friend willing to take on the caregiver role, but I don’t think either of us fully understood how much time, effort, and knowledge might be required to do it well.”
Schroeder is part of a growing demographic known as solo agers. AARP defines solo agers as people age 50 and older who are unmarried, have no living children, and live alone. Their numbers continue to rise across the United States, particularly among women.
The Cape Fear region is experiencing one of the nation’s fastest retiree-driven population booms, with many newcomers relocating here without extended family nearby. As a result, the number of solo agers in the region is expected to continue growing.
Planning Without a Built-In Support System
For solo agers, one question looms: when illness or infirmity strikes, who steps up? A neighbor? A friend? A system built for strangers?
To reduce the burden on his friend, Schroeder turned to Your HCPOA, a new physician-directed Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA) agent service. Working with its founder, former internal medicine physician Dr. Chris Sepich, Schroeder shared his values and healthcare wishes to help ensure they would be understood and honored if he were ever unable to speak for himself during a medical emergency, critical surgery, or end-of-life situation.
Peace of Mind is the Point – Not Just Emergency Preparedness
Unlike a traditional HCPOA agent or proxy who may lack medical training, Your HCPOA pairs individuals with a physician who can help interpret complex clinical information and communicate clearly with care teams in real time reflecting the values of the person impacted. This service is available 24/7 to respond immediately in a crisis.
“I brought a medical professional into the process and that’s exactly what I needed to do,” added Schroeder. “I genuinely believe his services would benefit any forward-thinking individual, couple, or family. It’s never too early to begin this kind of planning, but it can be too late.”
“Even if you never need me, my hope is to give you peace and assurance in life between now and then, so you don’t have to worry if or when you become vulnerable,” said Dr. Sepich.
Schroeder hopes he may never need to rely on his Your HCPOA agent’s services. He plans to live well into his 100s outliving his Aunt Ginny, who reached 103, but says he only wants to live long if he remains healthy.
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