Lessons learned from a care-management perspective.
Solo Aging in the LGBTQ+ Community
read more
Preparing Solo Agers to Receive Long-term Care
Nuanced advice on how best to talk to people about transitioning away from the idea of aging in place.
Forget Me Not: Solo Agers, Too, Want to Be Remembered
Even for those who have no offspring, there are many ways to leave a meaningful legacy.
Solo Agers Can Find Independence in Planning and Advocacy
Often the services of an elder law attorney can stave off disastrous consequences.
Senior Living: An Alternative for Solo Agers
Finding support and community in senior living.
Our Guest Editor: A Solo Ager on Solo Aging
Sara Zeff Geber approaches the topic of solo aging from a personal place and knows how critical it is to get the word out about the trend.
Confronting the Challenges of Solo Aging
Or how to age solo successfully.
Why We Need a Broader Framework for Solo Agers
‘Solo Agers are not a special interest group and solo-ness is not about bad choices, but rather another dimension of diversity.’
Navigating Solo Aging: The Unique Challenges Black Women Face
Engaging with real women provides a much more nuanced view of aging alone than do the statistics.
The Accidental Solo Ager
Lessons learned upon becoming a widow.
InsideThe Solo AgerGenerations Journal
Generations Journal, vol. 47, no. 2 (Summer 2023)
Solo Aging in the LGBTQ+ Community
Abstract: People may be well-versed in the changing needs of older adults, but still have no understanding of the diverse needs of LGBTQ+ older adults. This population is often inadequately represented, marginalized, mistreated, and poorly served in the mainstream...
Preparing Solo Agers to Receive Long-term Care
Abstract: Unrealistic expectations on the part of parents and Solo Agers that presume adult children, family members, and friends will step up as caregivers is a recipe for disaster. While much is advised about retirement, approaching the subject of long-term care is...
Forget Me Not: Solo Agers, Too, Want to Be Remembered
Abstract: As adults enter their later years, they begin to reflect upon past experiences, what they have learned from them, and what they want to pass on to the next generation. But many Solo Agers face a dilemma: Without a spouse and/or children to keep their memory...
Solo Agers Can Find Independence in Planning and Advocacy
Abstract: Older adults who lack the historically traditional support system of a spouse and/or adult children face greater challenges related to personal finance, access to healthcare and long-term care, and personal autonomy as they age. These individuals are...
Senior Living: An Alternative for Solo Agers
Abstract: The growing number of Solo Agers face unique challenges, especially when attempting to age in place in homes and communities ill-equipped to meet their changing needs. Senior living settings, with robust services and support systems for social engagement,...
Our Guest Editor: A Solo Ager on Solo Aging
Guest Editor Sara Zeff Geber, who holds a doctorate in Organizational Behavior and Counseling and is a nationally recognized expert on the topic of Solo Aging, approached this issue of Generations Journal from a personal vantage point, and because of that, so did many...
Confronting the Challenges of Solo Aging
About a decade ago, I began to notice that many of my friends and work colleagues were spending a tremendous amount of time and energy making sure their aging parents were managing their lives in a safe and healthy way and receiving care when necessary. In some cases,...
Why We Need a Broader Framework for Solo Agers
Abstract: Considering solo older adults from a personal level is an important and valuable perspective. It is, however, an incomplete strategy. Understanding context is essential to removing barriers and developing the resources Solo Agers need to thrive during the...
Navigating Solo Aging: The Unique Challenges Black Women Face
Abstract: The author interviewed 15 older Black women about being Solo Agers. This article reveals those findings, as well as winding research on the same cohort throughout. Some topics covered include lower marriage rates, the gender pay gap, occupational...
The Accidental Solo Ager
I became an unexpected widow and Solo Ager at age 63. Despite my husband's diagnosis of lymphoma, considered one of the better cancers for remission, I never thought he would die. Yet, after five years of chemotherapy and a failed stem-cell transplant, it happened. On...
Women Solo Agers in India: Concerns, Challenges, and Coping Strategies
Abstract: In India, an increasing number of women are choosing to remain single, which means they are likely to become Solo Agers. This study investigates the perceptions of single women in Mumbai about the concepts of women Solo Agers and Solo Aging, their potential...
Key Financial Planning Considerations for Solo Agers
Abstract: Many resources exist to explain financial planning challenges for the average person. But not many discussions focus on individuals or couples who are child-free or childless, often referred to as Solo Agers. This article examines the planning areas...
Cohousing: A Way for Solo Agers to Build and Maintain Community
Abstract: This article details the difficulty of loneliness in older adulthood, lays out the concept of cohousing as a solution to many challenges of aging, and describes one cohousing project from conception to years down the road as it thrives. Also addressed are...
Shared Housing: Making a Golden Girls Home a Reality
Abstract: Shared housing has many potential benefits for older adults including lower housing costs, companionship, and mutual help in managing daily life. Fear of a bad arrangement often stops elders from pursuing this option but if they can live according to four...
Solo Aging and the Importance of Building a Local Support Network
Abstract: This article explores the significance of establishing a local support network of friends and peers for solo agers, highlighting its potential benefits in addressing the social, emotional, and practical needs of this growing population. Key Words: support...
The Community-as-Family Model
Abstract: Community as Family (CAF) was developed in 2014 by Wendl Kornfeld. It is an educational model designed to encourage Solo Agers to anticipate and navigate their later years more efficiently, supported by a community-based team. There is no fee for coaching...
The Backup Plan—A New Planning Model that Keeps Solo Agers in Mind
Abstract: Planning for health and well-being is essential as people age, particularly those who consider themselves to be Solo Agers. Procrastination and fear often contribute to the low rate of plan completion. Research suggests that people will achieve better...
Suggested citation for articles in this issue: [Last Name(s), First Name(s)]. “Article Title.” Generations Journal, vol. [#], no. [#] [season and year (ex. Fall 2024)]. [URL]
About Generations Journal
Generations Journal is the quarterly journal of the American Society on Aging. Each issue is devoted to bringing together the most useful and current knowledge about a specific topic in the field of aging, with emphasis on practice, research, and policy.