There is a rising tide on the horizon—Solo Agers—that is, people who are over sixty with little or no familial support.
Many such people already understand just how much time and energy goes into supporting an older person, as they are or have been caregivers for their own parents. Visiting to abate loneliness, monitoring medications, managing finances, or simply providing rides to a house of worship or get groceries—it can be a major time commitment. A Solo Ager needs support systems, with the flexibility to change over time as needs and abilities change. Being a Solo Ager does not have to mean aging alone.
In fact, it is possible to have a higher level of care by relying on many more institutions and caregivers than one might have relying on the support of children. Therefore, many of these questions should be considered not only by Solo Agers, but by everyone.
