Planning ahead for aging when you’re in your 50s is a proactive and wise approach that offers multiple benefits for both you and your family. During this decade of life, you’re often still in good health and have the mental acuity to make well-informed, rational decisions about your future. This is the ideal time to explore options for healthcare, housing, and financial planning, allowing you to set up legal documents such as wills, trusts, and advance healthcare directives. Establishing these elements early on gives you the power to shape how you want to live your later years, reducing uncertainty and minimizing stress for your children and other family caregivers down the line.