Single-Handedly: Navigating Solo Aging In 2026

The headlines are jarring, heralding a crisis that already exists for all too many of us. Aging solo, whether you’re single, a widow or widower, divorced, without children or close relatives, or estranged from loved ones, is a tough row to hoe, especially as costs are rising, affordable and appropriate housing is limited, and retirement funds are modest or depleting. One headline recently called it “The Solo Ager Crisis.” Another termed it an “Explosion” of solo agers now in our midst. No matter how you look at it, for the estimated 22 million+ older adults who are aging solo, many of the typical retirement activities- whether financial, estate, or end-of-life planning, budgeting, or figuring out where to live- are all the more difficult, as there’s no natural partner to help consider the options, weigh the risks and benefits, assist with support, or share the costs or consequences.

Let’s take a look at the lay of the land. In general, no matter your circumstances, we know that our country has insufficient resources to fully support and sustain its aging population. Furthermore, we know that for many older adults, their spouses, partners, children, or other loved ones provide crucial- and unpaid- help to keep them going. But if you’re flying solo, there are likely no natural helpers to be there for you, as you shoulder costs and caregiving on your own. And while some solo agers enjoy their “freedom” and solitude, many are saddled with more costs than partnered seniors, as they bear the rising costs of insurance, housing, utilities, transportation, food, and health care all on their own and without the extra retirement income from a spouse to share the expenses. Why so many solos in 2026? Any number of reasons, including longer lives (outliving spouses), dissolved marriages (gray divorce), remaining single, foregoing children, and scattered and estranged families. As one anxious solo ager described it, “I’m flying without a net, and there’s no one to catch me.”

Experts, therefore, implore solo seniors to think strategically and proactively to set up the supports that come naturally to older adults with involved loved ones. What does that mean? Probably most importantly, there is the need to create some kind of “community”- whether friends or relatives, or paid helpers – to provide strategic support and emergency help when the need arises. It’s advised that you make sure you have a conversation with those you want to involve to ensure they’re up for the task, and that you bring in supports who are younger than you, so they’ll likely be around and available when needed. As one solo planner termed it, he has a “FAR” circle: Friends and Relatives. Others have similarly constructed a “care circle,” that is, a network of 3-5 friends or neighbors who agree to be involved, perhaps regularly checking in, as a loved one might do. And especially when you’re ready to create some formal legal documents, solo agers (along with all older adults) are encouraged to take care of the estate planning essentials: A durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney, a living will, and a will or trust to dispose of your assets upon your death. You may also want to appoint a trusted friend or a paid fiduciary to help you keep up with some of your bill paying or finances, should your decision-making capacity diminish.

These are just some basic suggestions and strategies to assist in your solo aging. Fortunately, there is a wide array of resources and guides now available to fully educate and enlighten solo seniors about options, considerations to take into account, and sources of support that they might not naturally have. Take a look at the list below to further understand how you can make your solo aging journey as enjoyable, fulfilling, and supported as possible (and if you’re looking to move to a region where solo seniors can find a more enjoyable quality of life, look here).

Resources for Solo Agers:

The Solo-Agers Decision Guide Resource Series

The David Financial Group: Financial Planning For Social Agers 

Navigating Solo Network

Dorot Aging Alone Together Online Six-Week program

Care Years Academy Guidance and Support for Solo Agers with Memory Concerns

Solo Aging Resource Center

The Solo Senior’s Guide To Thrive: Planning for Legal, Financial, and Personal Well-Being