Happy Valentine's Day! …Are You Cupid?

Are you Cupid, the Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus?

This probably seems like a funny question but each of these icons represents a different way of thinking. In this example, we’ll look at how Cupid, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus (and the people who think like them) might plan for their senior years. Take a moment and ask yourself which icon best applies to you.

Are you Cupid?
Are you Cupid?

Cupid

It doesn’t seem like Cupid has a concrete plan of action. He’s got his special bow and arrow and just stays ready to fire at the appropriate people as the need (desire?) arises. After that, it’s up to the love-struck pair to consider any details and try to make things work.

Applying this logic to planning for senior years, Cupid is a person who believes in the special bow and arrow. If Cupid suffers illness or injury, or is unable to take care of him (or her) self, the bow will fire of its own accord. The magic arrow will unerringly find the one who loves Cupid the most – or the one who would most love to take care of Cupid. Once the arrow does its work, the caregiver would then need to take care of the particulars.

With bow and arrow at the ready, Cupid trusts that once the arrow is fired the hard part is over. Cupid’s work is done and the happy ending is imminent. While that’s not a concrete plan, it’s more of a plan than the Easter Bunny seems to have.

Easter Bunny

Most of us have heard the song. The bunny’s just hopping along the trail “hippety-hoppity”, without a care in the world except the knowledge that Easter is “on its way”. Conventional wisdom says that when planning we shouldn’t put all of our eggs in one basket. Well, the Easter Bunny must have really taken that wisdom to heart! Not only does the Easter Bunny spread the eggs across multiple baskets, he puts them behind bushes, in tall grass, and sometimes in places people would never think to look.

In planning terms, we all know that barring unforeseen incident or circumstance, old age is coming. The Easter Bunny just cruises along in business as usual mode, recognizing that the senior years are always “on the way”, but not seeing that destination get closer. While the Easter Bunny may have placed a few eggs in safekeeping (and possibly a few in dye), there’s no real strategy or planning involved.

Events may occur in life that send the Easter Bunny’s friends and family scurrying to provide care or make decisions but as with Cupid’s “plan” the Easter Bunny ultimately relies on somebody, somewhere to deal with the aftermath. Neither Cupid nor the Easter Bunny can hold a candle to Santa Claus for planning.

Santa Claus

All the stories and most of the songs peg Santa Claus as the ultimate planner. He monitors trends, behaviors, and inventories all during the year; makes a written plan (in list form); and checks his planning to make sure all systems are in place. He even tells people what his plan is so everyone is on the same page. When Santa Claus is ready to act, he acts. Because Santa Claus has a plan, he knows that every contingency has been prepared for, that everyone knows what is expected of them, and that everything he wants taken care of will be done (in short order, too).

As a person planning for senior years, Santa Claus is ready for anything. He knows that he will get older. He knows that things will not take care of themselves. He even knows that he won’t get what he wants unless he writes a letter (a legal one, not just a letter to himself). Santa Claus checks his supplies and inventories (possessions, friends, family, etc.) and makes a written plan detailing who gets what (yes, Santa Claus has a will), but more importantly what needs to be done, and who needs to do it.

If Santa Claus so much as slips on the ice, the elves know how to carry on just as he would want them to – his plan describes every detail and leaves nothing to question. Santa Claus, the senior, would have no doubts or worries about care. He has a plan.

So, who are you most like —  Cupid, the Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus? Do you (or your loved ones) have a list (a plan)? Have you checked it twice?

About Us

With A Servant’s Heart Senior Care, older adults and their families can navigate through the next steps in aging with expert advice and assistance. Whether it’s providing caregivers so that your loved ones can remain at home, resolving an immediate crisis, help with finding an appropriate retirement home or assisted living facility for them, or just providing expert answers and advice and looking in on your loved ones from time to time to make sure that they’re ok, our full-service, CAHSAH-certified company can help. For more information call us toll-free at 800-777-4750 today!

More Resources

Check out the latest installment of the “Boomers and Seniors News You Can Use” Blog Carnival. This one has links to posts on finance, health, housing, care, and general life and living.

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Originally posted 2009-02-12 16:30:01.

Tim Colling
Tim Colling

Tim Colling is the founder and President of A Servant's Heart In-Home Care, which provided in-home caregiving services in San Diego County, and also of A Servant's Heart Geriatric Care Management, which provided
professional geriatric care management services and long term care placement services in San Diego County. Tim has more than 30 years of experience in management in a variety of industries. He held a Certified Care Manager credential from the National Academy of Certified Care Managers. Tim is also a Certified Public Accountant (retired), and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from California State University at San Diego. In addition to writing blog posts here for the Servant’s Heart blog, Tim also is a regular contributor to HealthLine.com and to FamilyAffaires.com as well as blogs of other eldercare services provider companies. Finally, Tim is also the president of A Servant's Heart Web Design and Marketing, which provides home care marketing as well as website design and online marketing for those who serve the elderly and their families.

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