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. | Across the United States, growing old no longer automatically means sharing a home with a spouse, children, or extended family. Millions of adults 50 and older now live alone, and the numbers are rising as people marry later, have fewer children, live longer, and often choose to age in place. |
Recent AARP research estimates that more than 24 million adults 50+ live alone, and many describe their lives in surprisingly positive terms: independent, in control, and satisfied. (AARP)
The AARP Bulletin’s theme, “How Older Americans Embrace the Joys of Living Alone,” reflects this quiet revolution in how we picture later life. Instead of assuming that solo living is a problem to be fixed, the focus shifts to what older adults themselves say: there is real joy in having a home and a schedule that they direct on their own. In one large AARP survey of “solo agers,” more than a third named freedom and autonomy as the very best part of living alone. (AARP)
That freedom shows up in daily routines. Many older adults who live alone report that they can eat when they want, sleep when they want, and shape each day around their own energy level and interests. They are more likely to devote time to hobbies, volunteering, spiritual practices, and lifelong learning—activities that might be squeezed out in a more crowded household. In fact, significant sources of joy for solo agers include time with friends, pursuing hobbies, staying physically active, and connecting with family on their own terms. (AARP)
Living alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. Many solo agers carefully build and maintain wide “families of choice”—friends, neighbors, fellow congregants, and former colleagues who provide emotional support and, when needed, practical help. Studies show that people aging solo tend to rely more on non-relatives and community ties than those who live with family, and that these networks can be strong and sustaining. (PMC)
Still, the story is not all sunshine. A significant minority of older adults who live alone report periods of loneliness and worry about what will happen if their health fails. In AARP surveys, about one in five solo agers report feeling lonely, and many say that isolation is the hardest part of their situation. (AARP)
That freedom shows up in daily routines. Many older adults who live alone report that they can eat when they want, sleep when they want, and shape each day around their own energy level and interests. They are more likely to devote time to hobbies, volunteering, spiritual practices, and lifelong learning—activities that might be squeezed out in a more crowded household. In fact, significant sources of joy for solo agers include time with friends, pursuing hobbies, staying physically active, and connecting with family on their own terms. (AARP)
Living alone does not necessarily mean being lonely. Many solo agers carefully build and maintain wide “families of choice”—friends, neighbors, fellow congregants, and former colleagues who provide emotional support and, when needed, practical help. Studies show that people aging solo tend to rely more on non-relatives and community ties than those who live with family, and that these networks can be strong and sustaining. (PMC)
Still, the story is not all sunshine. A significant minority of older adults who live alone report periods of loneliness and worry about what will happen if their health fails. In AARP surveys, about one in five solo agers report feeling lonely, and many say that isolation is the hardest part of their situation. (AARP)
That’s why experts emphasize intentional planning: naming trusted decision-makers, putting legal documents in place, thinking through housing options, and making a conscious effort to stay socially connected long before a crisis occurs. (Kiplinger)
Taken together, the emerging portrait is nuanced but hopeful. Older Americans who live alone are not simply “left behind”; many are actively shaping a way of life that values independence, meaningful connection, and personal growth. The challenge—and opportunity—going forward is to support that choice by strengthening neighborhood networks, expanding community services, and encouraging all of us, whatever our age, to rethink what “living alone” can look like.
Far from being a second-best option, solo aging is becoming a deliberate and joyful path for millions of older Americans—one that deserves to be seen, understood, and respected.