Designing for Independence and Dignity with Longevity Planning With Esther Greenhouse

Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Esther Greenhouse, CEO of Silver To Gold Strategies, a financial gerontology consultancy working at the intersection of economics and aging. Esther is an environmental gerontologist and longevity strategist. Her work at Silver To Gold Strategies equips financial planning firms to reduce preventable caregiving risks and costs.

Esther applied her unique Enabling Design Method™ to help her mother delay a move to a care facility by 7 years, maintaining dignity and legacy and saving a considerable amount in estimated costs. She has worked on visionary projects, such as the U.S.'s first elder-focused ER, co-created a multiyear initiative for AARP International, served as the strategic director for the nation's first Age Friendly Center for Excellence, and created and taught a course on her unique method at her alma mater, Cornell University.

Esther describes the realities and challenges families face as some of their family members enter their golden years and are choosing to age in place and talks about what this transition means for the families, their caregivers, and their advisors. She outlines how families should be planning for this stage of life and identifies the developments and decisions they will face across so many areas of their life – from home design to finances to the psychology of aging and caregiving, to mention just a few.

One practical consideration – and a difficult one to discuss – is how to design the home environment around the personal hygiene needs of the family member and support their independence and dignity. Esther shares her tips on what families and family offices need to think about to achieve this goal.

Another practical dimension Esther talks about is for families to develop and execute intentional longevity planning and strategy that includes generations and encourages all the difficult conversations, while providing the practical solutions families need. Can you elaborate on this.

Enjoy this instructive conversation on an important, yet difficult topic with a leading expert in the field of longevity and gerontology.