Although there is no guarantee that children will take care of their parents in old age, this isn’t even an option for many aging Baby Boomers. That’s because one in three Boomers is single as a result of never marrying, being divorced or widowed.
Even if single Boomers had children at some point in their lives, chances are they didn’t have many: from 1976 to 2012, the average number of children born to all women dropped from more than three children per woman to about two.
At this unparalleled time in America’s history, when 10,000 people turn 65 every day, how can a single and/or childless Boomer age with dignity, and prepare for older age?
Here are two excellent articles that address the issue, with suggestions and varied perspectives:
Anna Medaris Miller – USA Today
No Spouse, No Kids, No Caregiver: How to Prepare to Age Alone
“A growing population of ‘elder orphans’ lack a built-in support system. What to do if you become one.”
MAP – Movement Advancement Project Website
Improving the Lives of LGBT Older Adults
“…provides an overview of the unique challenges and inequities facing LGBT elders. It also offers detailed recommendations for eliminating—or at least reducing—inequities and improving the lives, and life chances, of LGBT older Americans.”
And check out how Michigan is ahead of the curve, creating age-friendly communities that serve everyone: