Elder Orphans

A recent national survey of older adults living alone, conducted by AARP, found both good and not-so-good news when it comes to seniors aging “solo.” About 10% of the US population over age 50 are “solo agers” and for women over age 75, that number jumps to 42%. It’s a…

This past spring, a survey was conducted by The Associated Press and NORC at The University of Chicago to find out whether older adults are worried about “aging in place.” As it turns out, not so much, at least among those who are 65 and older. According to the survey…

While for some of us, the thought of growing older without having a spouse or adult children might be anxiety-provoking, for others, that’s just a normal way of life and may even be a preferable way of aging. Certainly, in this generation of older adults, who have had access to…

It’s hard enough facing some of the challenges of getting older. Now imagine facing those challenges without loved ones or supportive family members to offer a helping hand. For millions of Americans, they don’t have to imagine, because that’s their reality. According to the Merck Manual, 30% of the 46…

Whether by fate or by choice, many of us will grow older alone. Some of us never married or had a partner, some have no children, some live too far away from family to count on any help, and some are estranged from next of kin- essentially all alone. Estimates…

While the holiday season conjures up images of festive gatherings and family reunions, it’s also a time that highlights the prevalence of loneliness and social isolation in our society. Estimates are that one in every 11 Americans over 50 has no spouse, partner or living child and that 8 million…