The oldest millennials are 45! This tool helps plan for longevity

When it comes to aging, many people focus on retirement savings. But what about community, caregiving, and purpose when navigating a long life? Mar Hernández for NPR hide caption toggle caption Mar Hernández for NPR If you're planning for the future, you've likely been advised to track your retirement savings. But Joe Coughlin , director of the MIT AgeLab, says there's more to the equation when it comes to navigating a long life. Given the number of centenarians is expected to quadruple by 2054, Coughlin and his collaborators developed a comprehensive way to plan for aging. It's called the Longevity Preparedness Index . "Unlike one more survey or index out there about how much money you've saved, we want to look at all those big and little things that we take for granted in life," Coughlin says. "We may expect things won't change, but when a big life transition comes along – whether it's retiring from a profession, a death or unexpected sickness – many people have unintentionally ignored some of the very decisions that could help us thrive," he says. The quiz is free online and takes about 15 minutes to complete. A score is determined by answers across eight domains, including relationships with family, friends and community, health and daily activities. Awareness is the first step MIT AgeLab researcher Katie Warren walks financial planner Matt Hudack through the survey at a John Hancock longevity conference, where the tool was introduced in April. …