How lonely seniors can thrive on their own as solo aging becomes more common than ever

As the population continues to get older, more adults are becoming solo agers during their golden years.“Solo agers have been shown to be as healthy and happy as other older adults and live just as long,” Sara Zeff Geber, PhD., an aging expert and author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” told Fox News Digital.Some of them, however, face unique challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life and well-being.Below, experts offer advice on how to be a successful solo ager.“My definition of a solo ager is someone who does not have family nearby who are able and willing to intervene in a crisis and who will be available to provide support as the solo ager requires it,” Geber said.Some people become solo agers by choice — through opting not to have children, for example — or by circumstance, such as the death of a spouse or a child moving away, the expert added.About 28% of people 65 and older — or 22 million older adults — live alone, according to 2023 data from the US Census Bureau.Among adults aged 50 or older, approximately 12% of them are considered “solo agers,” according to a 2021 AARP report.“While the idea of aging without family support has always existed, especially in cases of widows or childless individuals, solo aging as a distinct concept with its own set of challenges and considerations has emerged more prominently in recent decades,” Bei Wu, PhD, vice dean for research at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, told Fox News Digital.Different cultures also view autonomy differently as adults get older.“In China, the ‘three no’ older adults — those with no children, no ability to work and no income — have faced significant challenges and garnered considerable attention in gerontological research,” said Wu, who has studied social isolation and aging.Solo agers are more likely to lack support from friends and family, which can make it difficult to access social, emotional and practic...