Aging Alone: What’s Your Plan?

Recently, I listened to a presentation by Raymond A. Jetson, a Professor at the University of San Diego and founder of the University Center on Aging. Just a few minutes into listening to his presentation, many questions popped into my mind:

Will I remain healthy when I am old? Will I have enough money to take care of myself and my wife? Where will I be living? Who would care for me when I become sick or unable to do certain things that I would love to do myself?

Aging in the US for Blacks is not as simple as the word sounds. To understand aging in the US, you must have lived it or seen it through Raymond’s lens. He said, “To understand the experience of aging while Black, we must consider not only the accumulation of years, but the accumulation of injustice.”

As Black people who have suffered severe historical and systemic injustice, including centuries of chattel slavery, economic redlining, violent post-Civil War Jim Crow segregation, state-sanctioned disenfranchisement, and ongoing disparities in the criminal justice system, aging in the US is not an easy sail. For those aging without a spouse or children, these longstanding inequalities can be elevated by racial wealth gaps, limited access to caregiving resources, and the loss of traditional family support systems.

While preparing for later life can be difficult for people with spouses and children, for those who are single, it is even more personal. Without a spouse or children, planning for later life requires a different approach. Being single doesn’t mean you will need to be alone, helpless, or face aging without support. It means you need to be intentional about building a secure future when aging calls.

“Who Will Take Care Of Me When I Get Old?”

The question hides several questions. Who will drive me to medical appointments? Who will check up on me if I live alone? Who will help me make important decisions when I can’t make them myself? And ultimately, who will notice if something goes wrong?

If you are single and concerned about these questions, your concerns are legitimate. New Age Care said that age affects how people move, their health needs, daily freedom, and even their finances. As a single person, you may look to your siblings, friends, nephew, niece, or any distant relative, but that is rarely a good strategy. Instead, think about creating a care network.

Build a Circle of Support

Family should be part of your caregiving plan in old age, but it’s not advisable to put all your eggs in one basket. According to a caregiving expert, relatives may experience caregiver burnout, move away, or face logistical or financial limitations. You wouldn’t want that later in life.

Therefore, a strong support network should not be restricted to family, but:

Close friends
Neighbors
Distance relatives
Members of a community organization, like a church or club
Healthcare providers
Professional caregivers
Trusted advisers
Financial professionals

It is important to start establishing these relationships before a crisis occurs. You should have several people who can provide various types of support as the need arises in old age, which is far safer than depending on a handful of family members.

3 Top Important Things to Plan For

There are several things that you would need when you are aging alone, but if you can handle these 3 perfectly, the rest are as good as handled:

Plan your finances before you need help.

According to Citizens Bank, planning your finances before old age helps ensure:

Security
Reduce family stress
Protect independence

When planning for retirement, don’t limit it to everyday expenses; also consider increases in health care, transportation, housing, and caregiving costs. Plan for everything because you may eventually need help with housekeeping, meals, and personal care, especially if you live longer than expected.

The goal here is not to accumulate money; it is for you to create balanced financial flexibility that gives you choice as you age gracefully.

Make your housing work for your future.

While you may enjoy the comfort of your home now, it may not be the same in twenty or thirty years from now. At that time, the stairs of your home may feel like a mountain to climb, bathrooms will become narrow, floors will get slippery, and grocery stores may become a journey of a thousand miles.

As a single adult, you need to consider whether your current home can support you in the years to come. MDPI reports that the right home in old age will not only protect your health and safety but will also guarantee your personal freedom. You may need to:

Remodify your current home
Move to a smaller house
Move to a community designed for older adults
Relocate to an area closer to your needs
Stay close to family and friends
Live in an area with easy access to your home

Consider professional care.

Many think getting professional caregiving means losing their independence. But on the contrary, it helps:

Protect your health
Prevent dangerous fall
Manage complex daily medicines
Stop loneliness
Maintain independence

Senior Health Care Solutions said professional care could help nurture emotional and social well-being. Professional care can include:

Meal delivery
Transportation service
Home health aide
Cleaner

All these depend on your financial strength. Don’t wait till you can no longer cope and are desperate; start small, learn which services are available in your community that meet your budget, and the going will be smoother in later years.

Start While You Have a Choice

The best way to start as a single person is to begin before you need help. Very importantly, don’t let your future depend on one person.

The question should not be “who will take care of me?” but “How can I build a support system that will care for me in old age”?

In all your planning, also: