What’s Your Plan, Man? Aging, Longevity, and the Looming Care Crisis

by Jessica Solomon

We all know how this ends: no one gets out of life alive.
News flash—life as we know it comes to an end. For everyone.

And yet, we live like we’ll never die. Despite the abundance of information on health, wellness, and longevity, many of us choose denial over preparation. We cling to our vices, bad habits, and blind spots like security blankets, while avoiding the one conversation that matters most: what happens when we get old?

This is a fascinating—and sobering—time in history. People are living longer. A lot longer. Centenarians aren’t rare anymore. Science, medicine, and lifestyle changes are helping people live well into their 90s and 100s. But here’s the real question:

Do you even want to live that long? And if so… what’s your plan, man?

The Longevity Paradox

I’ve always been an obsessive saver. Call it childhood conditioning, a scarcity mindset, or just fierce independence—but I’ve spent a lifetime trying to prepare for the unknown. Maybe it’s no coincidence that I’ve also spent the last 20 years working in the senior care industry. I’ve had a front-row seat to the aging process, watching families navigate a complex maze of decisions, services, support systems, and heartbreak.

Let me tell you—it’s not for the faint of heart.

Our population is aging at an unprecedented rate. But the infrastructure to support this new reality? It’s not keeping up. Dementia is on the rise. People need custodial care, not just medical care—and our systems (Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance) are woefully unprepared. We’re entering an era where people who planned responsibly for retirement are now outliving their plans.

We’re way past the “sandwich generation.”
Welcome to the six-foot sub generation—layer upon layer of aging parents, adult children, grandchildren, and economic uncertainty, all stuffed into one strained family system.

Burnout, Breakdown, and the Brutal Costs of Care

Adult children are burning out. They’re emotionally exhausted, financially overwhelmed, and often in shock at the sheer cost of long-term care. Assisted living, in-home caregivers, memory care—these aren’t luxuries, they’re necessities. But they’re priced like luxuries, and access is becoming more limited as the caregiving workforce shrinks and healthcare costs skyrocket.

Meanwhile, the demand grows. Every. Single. Day.

So what’s the answer?

It Starts With CARE.

Not just the hands-on kind of care, but the conscious kind.

We need to care more about our futures.
We need to care more about our aging population—because we’re aging, too.
We need to stop burying our heads in the sand and start asking real questions:

• What does my aging plan look like?

• Where do I want to live as I age?

• Who will take care of me if I can’t take care of myself?

• Am I financially prepared not just for retirement—but for a longer-than-expected life?

This isn’t about fear-mongering. It’s about being real. It’s about giving ourselves—and each other—the chance to age with dignity, intention, and support.

If you plan to stay alive, then you need a plan for aging. Not just a retirement fund, but a real, compassionate, informed approach to what the last chapters of life might look like.

Because the truth is: no one gets out of this alive. But we do get to choose how we prepare, how we support others, and how we show up—for our parents, our communities, and ourselves.

So… what’s your plan, man?