In 40 Days Women Can Gain Confidence About Their Future

AARP launches its 40 Day Pledge website, www.decidecreateshare.org.  The website – an extension of AARP’s Decide. Create. Share.℠ initiative – empowers women with valuable information, free resources and interactive tools we can use to spark and complete a comprehensive long-term care plan in just a few steps.

“AARP understands that women are central to the long-term wellbeing of our families, but what about our own futures?  Our research tells us that the average caregiver spends 20 hours a week taking care of others, but we do not take the time to think and plan for our own futures.  This dynamic can inadvertently leave import decisions to others, and cause a great deal of stress for ourselves and our families,” says Cassandra D. Oshinnaiye, Campaign Manager of AARP’s Decide. Create. Share.℠   “The 40 Day Pledge equips women to take hold of our future by deciding on a plan, creating that plan and then sharing it with the people who are most important to us.”

 Decide. Create. Share.℠ encourages women to take the Pledge and kick off an interactive, step-by-step planning process.  Over 40 days, participants are guided through four major topic areas – Health, Finances, Legal, and Home/Community – in sizing up their situation and developing a customized plan.

Sharing the importance of planning is easier than ever because the Decide. Create. Share.℠ website connects to social media on Facebook ( https://www/facebook.com/DecideCreateShare) and Twitter @DCSwomen).  Now, women may continue the conversation with our families and friends.  A hashtag, #40daypledge, has also been assigned, rendering conversation threads easily accessible.  The website also includes a blog showcasing personal stories, experiences and encouragements.

“For some women, long-term care planning must seem impossible when finding the time to create a plan for themselves.  Between their commitments to loved ones and the needs of their own families, it’s understandable that women put off creating a plan.  The Decide. Create. Share.℠ initiative provides a road map and a timetable to make planning easier and we’re excited to be part of that effort, “said Mercy Morganfield, AARP District of Columbia State President. 

In support of the 40 Day Pledge, AARP’s Decide. Create. Share.℠ will host a one-day workshop introducing the women in our community to the free tools and resources featured on the website.  Entitled Living Long, Living Smarter, the workshop will take place in the DC area this September.

 

To learn more about the 40 Day Pledge and Decide. Create. Share.℠, log onto www.decidecreateshare.org.