Meeting the needs of solo agers

There is a growing number of solo agers in the United States. Pew Research found that nearly 20 percent of baby boomer women didn’t have children – double the rate of younger generations. Further, the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University found that nearly 40 percent of divorcing adults are aged 50 and older. That amounts to a large number of aging people who will need a wide range of support in the coming years – particularly in developing and maintaining social connections; making financial, medical and other life decisions; and developing plans for managing later-life care and support during a crisis.
People in this demographic tend to be better educated and have greater financial resources than their peers with family support, so they represent a promising market for organizations that serve them – or would like to attract more of them. Offering them support with key needs can help. In senior living and adult care facilities, there may be opportunities to help solo agers feel more comfortable with their living arrangements and adapt to change. Argentum, the national trade association supporting senior living communities, recommends that these facilities provide services to help solo agers downsize – to include supporting them through real estate transactions and with their move to a senior living community. There is also a growing need for patient advocates and other advisors (whether onsite or simply local) who can provide solo agers with medical and financial support. Once solo agers have moved into a facility, pairing them with a buddy, creating places in the dining room for groups of solo diners, and offering holiday events specifically for those without family nearby can help smooth their transition.