GeriDrama Risk Score

What the GeriDrama Risk Score Measures

A simple, research-informed snapshot of your readiness for the second half of life.

Most adults don’t know how prepared they truly are for aging — legally, financially, logistically, emotionally, or relationally. The GeriDrama Risk Score changes that. This 20-question assessment offers a clear, actionable picture of your strengths and vulnerabilities across the areas research shows matter most. It translates decades of studies in gerontology, financial planning, family systems, and mindful aging into one simple, practical tool.

Each question is scored:

0 = Yes/Complete

1 = Partial/In Progress

2 = Not Yet

Lower scores mean more readiness — and less future “GeriDrama.”

Higher scores highlight the exact areas where planning will bring the most peace and clarity.

Here’s what the score actually measures:

SECTION 1 — Foundation & Planning

Legal, Financial, Housing

Research shows that the strongest predictor of smooth aging transitions is having the core structural elements in place: legal documents, simple finances, long-term care planning, organized information and realistic housing options.

This section measures whether you have:

• Essential legal documents (wills, powers of attorney, advance directives) completed, updated and easy to find

• Guidance from an elder law attorney so you know exactly how your documents work

• A long-range, lifestyle-centered financial plan created with a Certified Financial Planner™

• A clear understanding of how long-term care is funded and what it will cost

• Organized financial accounts, updated beneficiaries and instructions for future decision-makers

• A housing plan that reflects medical, mobility, safety and cost realities

• A safety-informed home evaluation with a plan for modifications or alternatives

• A secure, simple, “Where Everything Lives” file for legal and personal information

This domain captures the practical backbone of aging — the essential planning that reduces crisis-driven decisions and protects autonomy.

SECTION 2 — People, Roles, Communication & Support

Your Decision-Makers, Family Alignment, Professional Team & Social Network

Research in family systems and caregiving consistently shows that role confusion, silence, and mismatched expectations are the biggest sources of conflict during aging journeys — not money.

This section measures whether you have:

• Clearly chosen and informed your medical, financial, and personal decision-makers

• Communicated your wishes, values, and expectations in simple, memorable language

• Family or loved ones who generally agree on their future roles, reducing the chance of conflict

• A basic understanding of the older-adult services ecosystem — care managers, money managers, home care, hospice, senior move professionals, etc.

• A supportive network (friends, neighbors, community, faith partners) that reduces isolation and builds resilience

• Trust in the people you’ve chosen to help you — including those who will care for pets or dependents

This domain evaluates the human side of planning — communication, clarity, confidence, and cohesion — all of which are crucial to preventing GeriDrama.

SECTION 3 — Lifestyle, Safety, Adaptability & Legacy

Health, Technology, “What If?” Thinking, Flexibility & Meaning

Aging research consistently finds that wellbeing in the second half of life is shaped by a combination of health habits, adaptability, future thinking, and purposeful living. This section captures the readiness factors that keep people independent longer.

It measures whether you:

• Care proactively for your physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual health

• Have a clear plan for driving reduction or cessation, including conversations and agreements

• Are comfortable using essential technology that supports health, finances and communication

• Practice “What if?” thinking to build mental resilience and reduce panic during unexpected change

• Are willing and able to adapt your plans when life shifts medically, financially or relationally

• Live with a legacy mindset — focusing on service, meaning, gratitude, and the values you want to be remembered for

This domain reflects how flexible, resilient, and grounded you are — the qualities most associated with thriving in later life.

Your Score: What It Means

0–12 = Low GeriDrama Risk

You’ve built a strong foundation. Keep systems simple, documents updated, and conversations active. Review housing, transportation, and safety every 1–2 years.

13–24 = Moderate Risk

You have momentum — now simplify your financial plan, refresh legal documents, complete your “Where Everything Lives” file, and host a family conversation to align expectations.

25–40 = High Risk

Start with one step: list your decision-makers, book one appointment (CFP™, elder law attorney, or primary doctor), and create one folder for essentials. Small actions reduce overwhelm quickly.

What Makes This Score Different

Most tools focus on one area — finances, documents, or health.

This score integrates all three research-validated dimensions of aging preparedness:

1. Practical planning (legal, financial, housing)

2. People and communication (roles, expectations, support)

3. Lifestyle and adaptability (health, mindset, flexibility, legacy)

It gives you — and the people you love — a simple, holistic “snapshot” of readiness, and a clear set of next steps.

Assess Your GeriDrama Risk Score Now

Let’s get mindful about your aging preparation! Score each of the 20 questions with one of the following values:

Each question is scored:

0 = Yes/Complete

1 = Partial/In Progress

2 = Not Yet

SECTION 1 — Foundation & Planning (Legal, Financial, Housing)

Do you have your essential legal documents completed and updated — including your will, durable financial power of attorney, health-care proxy, and advance directive — and are they organized in a simple, easy-to-find place? ___________
Have you consulted with or hired an elder law attorney to prepare these documents and explain them clearly so you understand exactly how they work? ___________
Have you worked with a Certified Financial Planner™ to build a long-term financial plan that is clear, simple, and tailored to your lifestyle, longevity, long-term care costs, and financial legacy? ___________
Do you understand the only three ways long-term care is funded — Medicaid (if you qualify), a strong long-term care insurance policy, or your own savings — and how Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits fit into your future care plan? (Medicare does not pay for long-term care. Medicaid requires qualification. VA benefits may help some veterans, but eligibility varies. 70% of adults will need long-term care, and in-home support averages $35/hour.) ___________
Are your financial accounts organized with clarity and simplicity — including updated beneficiaries, labeled accounts, and written instructions for the people who will one day manage or settle them? ___________
Do you have a realistic and easy-to-understand plan for where you would want to live if your health or mobility changes — including the cost, care availability, and lifestyle implications? ___________
Have you evaluated your current home for mobility, safety, and accessibility, and created a simple plan for modifications or alternative housing options? ___________
Do you store your essential information — passwords, accounts, legal documents, preferences — in a clear, streamlined format your trusted people can easily find when needed? ___________

SECTION 2 — People, Roles, Communication & Support

Have you clearly chosen — and informed — the people who will serve as your medical decision maker, your financial decision maker, and your personal representative, and do they understand their roles? ___________
Have you shared your wishes, values, and expectations with the people who may one day help you, in clear and simple language they can remember? ___________
Do your loved ones generally agree on their future roles, responsibilities, and the kind of help you want — reducing the chance of conflict later? ___________
Are you knowledgeable about the many professionals in the older-adult services ecosystem — care managers, daily money managers, elder law attorneys, home care agencies, hospice, senior move managers, and more — and do you understand in simple terms how each one can help? ___________
Do you have a supportive network — friends, neighbors, community, faith partners — who help reduce isolation and increase resilience? ___________
Do you trust the people you’ve chosen to help you — including who will care for pets or other dependents if your health declines — and have you communicated that trust clearly to them? ___________

SECTION 3 — Lifestyle, Safety, Adaptability & Legacy

Do you proactively care for your physical, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual health to maintain independence as long as possible? ___________
Have you created a plan for driving reduction or cessation — including discussing road safety and signing a driving retirement agreement — and shared it with your loved ones so expectations are clear? ___________
Are you comfortable with essential technology (phones, patient portals, financial apps, communication tools) and do you have a simple system for keeping access information up to date? ___________
Do you regularly practice “What if?” thinking to mentally prepare for unexpected change, crisis, or loss — helping reduce panic and promote clarity? ___________
Are you flexible and open to adjusting your plans when life shifts medically, financially, or relationally? ___________
Are you living with a legacy mindset — prioritizing service, mentoring, community contribution, empathy, gratitude, and the values you want to be remembered for — and ensuring your choices reflect that clarity? ___________

SCORING

0–12 = Low GeriDrama Risk

13–24 = Moderate Risk

25–40 = High Risk

NEXT STEPS BASED ON YOUR SCORE

If LOW: