skip to contentSkip to site index
the new age
Nearly a million Americans do not have immediate family members to lend a hand if needed. The number is expected to grow.
Lynne Ingersoll of Blue Island, Illinois, ceased to be a relative three years ago after the death of her sister. "My social life consists of doctors and salesmen; it's a joke, but it's quite true," she said.Recognition...Jamie Kelter Davis for the New York Times
Supported by
Continue reading the main story
Send each friend a story.
As a subscriber, you have10 gift itemsto give every month. Everyone can read what you share.
925
Throughpaula
Lynne Ingersoll and her cat Jesse spent a quiet Thanksgiving together in their small bungalow in Blue Island, Illinois.
Ms. Ingersoll, a retired librarian, has never been married or had children. At 77, she is outlived by her parents, three couples, her two closest friends, five dogs and eight cats.
When her sister died three years ago, Ms. Ingersoll joined the ranks of older Americans who consider themselves "no kin" — without a partner or spouse, children or siblings. Covid-19 has also largely put a stop to your casual get-togethers with friends. Now she said: "My social life consists of doctors and salesmen, it's a joke, but it's quite true."
Like many older adults, Ms. Ingersoll struggles with a variety of health problems: kidney disease, asthma, heart disease that requires a pacemaker, arthritis that makes it difficult to walk even with a cane. She's getting it, but "I can see a time when that won't be true," she said. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do about it."
An estimated 6.6 percent of American adults age 55 and oldernot have a living spouse or biological children, according to a 2017 study published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series B.
About 1 percent fit a narrower definition, excluding spouse or partner, children, and biological siblings. For women over the age of 75, the figure rises to 3 percent.
Those aren't high proportions, but they add up to a lot of related people: Nearly a million older Americans without a spouse or partner, children or siblings in 2019, including some 370,000 women age 75 and older.
"We assume that everyone has at least one family, but that's no longer the case," says Rachel Margolis, a sociologist at the University of Western Ontario and co-author of the study.
Various demographic factors have led to a greater lack of relationship. Baby boomers have lower marriage rates and higher divorce rates than their parents, and many have not had children. The rise of the callsgray divorce, after 50 years, it also means fewer married seniors, and a longer life expectancy can provide more years without a surviving family.
image
"All the paths to singleness have grown," said Dr. Deborah Carr, a sociologist and researcher at Boston University.
Cohabitation as an alternative to marriage has increased among older couples, but these older peopletheir partners care less often than married couples. Those in committed relationships who do not live with their partners are even less likely.
Also, older people who are black are women and have less wealth.have particularly high kinetic rates.
The growing number of elderly without families, who sometimes refer to themselves as "elderly orphans" or "lonely elderly," worries researchers and advocates because this group faces numerous disadvantages.
A study ofMiddle-aged and older adults in Canadafound that those without a partner or children (this study did not include data on siblings) had lower self-reported levels of mental and physical health and higher levels of loneliness. They were less likely to participate in activities such as sports, cultural or religious groups, or service clubs, a predictor of later cognitive decline.
Unrelated Americansdie before. dr. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, Margolis and her co-authors found that a decade after respondents were first interviewed, more than 80 percent of older people with partners and children survived, compared with only about 60 percent of those who also did not have a partner.
At the end of life, researchers at Mount Sinai in New York reported:People without a partner and childrenthey received fewer nursing hours per week and were more likely to die in nursing homes.
"Aging is difficult in the best of circumstances and even more difficult when faced alone or with weak social ties," said Dr. Carr.
On the other hand, meet Joan DelFattore, 76, a retired English professor from the University of Delaware. Like some seniors, she "felt early on that she just didn't see myself as a wife and mother," she said.
Preferring to live alone, "I've been working to build a single life," she said.
image
dr. DelFattore, who is in good health, still writes and researches, and teaches graduate school every other fall. He keeps in touch with a group of friends almost daily, taking one of them for walks several times a week and staying close to cousins in New Jersey with whom he spent Thanksgiving. She takes an active role in various local organizations.
And she "dislikes the cultural perception that being elderly with no immediate family must mean you are needy and unsupported."
Sociologists call this strategy "substitution": turning to friends and neighbors for the connections and livelihoods that families have traditionally provided.
In Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, for example, Celeste Seeman, who is divorced with no children and has lived alone for 25 years, has made friends with the neighbors in her apartment building. When one recently had surgery, Ms. Seeman, 65 and still an embroidery machine operator, walked her neighbor's Chihuahuas, did her laundry and called her almost every day for weeks.
"I hope that what is happening will work out," Ms Seeman said. Having outlived her family by caring for her parents until her death, there is no relative left who can provide similar help when she herself needs it.
"It scares me," he admitted, later adding: "You can't dwell on things. It couldn't happen."
A study ofsole survivor of the family, the last members of the families they grew up in, found they were also disproportionately likely to be without a spouse or partner and children, for unclear reasons, and thus doubly vulnerable.
Of course, having a family is not a guarantee of help in old age. Alienation, physical distance, and declining health from loved ones can make them unwilling or unable to serve as caregivers.
Still, "like it or not, our elder care system runs on the backs of spouses and secondarily adult children," said Susan Brown, a sociologist at Bowling Green State University and author of the Study of Dover Family Survivors.
image
Relying on substitutes has limits. About two-thirds of older Americans will at some point experience a gum stroke and need help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom.
"Friends and neighbors can help with meals or pick up a prescription, but they won't help you shower," Dr. Margólis said.
dr. DelFattore prepared for this possibility by getting long-term care insurance years ago so she could hire caregivers or pay for assisted living. Few Americans have or can afford the cost, but most will also not be able to afford adequate care out of pocket and their income is not low enough to qualify for Medicaid.
“Policies tend to lag behind reality,” said Dr. Carr. “In decades past, there was a belief that older adults would marry and have children; This is what the classic American family looked like. It does not work any more."
In the absence of a broad public program, experts propose a variety of smaller solutions to support older related people.
shared flats and shared flats, which provide security and help in numbers and community could grow, especially with public and philanthropic support. Thatpeople's movement, which helps seniors age at home, could also expand.
Revised family leave policies and caregiver support programs could include friends and neighbors or more distant relatives such as nieces and nephews.
Regardless of how governments, community organizations and health systems begin to tackle the problem, there is little time to lose. The projections indicate so.the lack of relationship will increase sharplyas the population cohorts are behind the baby boom era.
"Younger people are marrying less often and have fewer children, and have fewer siblings" as family size shrinks, Dr. Marrón said. “How will they deal with declining health? We don't have a good answer. I'm not sure if people are paying attention."
commercial
Continue reading the main story
FAQs
Who is responsible for most caregiving to elderly? ›
After all, in most cases, it was your parents who raised you and cared for you when you needed help. Most American adult children do believe elder care costs are their responsibility. Additionally, 55% of American seniors expect their adult children to take care of them.
What do you call someone who cares for the elderly? ›Someone who takes care of a very young, elderly, or ill person is called a caregiver. If you make sure your ailing friend eats every day and is relatively comfortable, you are her caregiver. Being a caregiver is sometimes a paying job — a home health aid and a nurse in a hospital both work as caregivers.
What happens to an elderly person who has no family? ›What Problems Face Seniors without a Family? Many people have diminished capacity and are less able to care for themselves as they age. They may no longer be able to easily walk or drive, and can experience difficulty with basic activities (e.g., shopping, cooking, cleaning).
Who provides informal care? ›Informal care is generally defined as the unpaid care provided to older and dependent persons by a person with whom they have a social relationship, such as a spouse, parent, child, other relative, neighbour, friend or other non-kin (Triantafillou et al. 2010).
What are the 4 type of caregivers? ›Are you looking for a caregiver? Then you should know your options. In general, there are four types of caregivers: Home Health Care, Assisted Living Facilities, Nursing Homes, and Adult Daycare Centers.
What are the 5 types of caregivers? ›The most common type of caregiver is the family caregiver: someone who takes care of a family member without pay. The other types are professional, independent, private, informal, and volunteer caregivers.
What is the difference between a caretaker and a caregiver? ›A caregiver refers to someone who directly cares for the elderly, children, or people with serious illnesses. On the other hand, a caretaker's job is broader, such as being employed to take care of the house or land while the owner is away and someone who provides physical or emotional care and support.
What is it called when you help the elderly at home? ›Personal care.
Help with the activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or meal preparation, is called personal or custodial care. Home health aides can provide personal care services that range from a few hours a day to around-the-clock live-in care.
Broadly defined, caregiver refers to any family member, partner, neighbor or friend who has a significant relationship with and/or provides assistance for an older individual or an adult with health issues.
What happens when an elderly person can't take care of themselves? ›A conservator or guardian is appointed and supervised by the court. They are normally granted the authority to manage the personal, financial, and health care decisions of an adult who cannot do so on their own. For more information about conservatorships and guardianships, see FindLaw's "What is a Conservatorship?
Where do the elderly go when they have no money? ›
Another good place to check is your regional Area Agency on Aging, where you might find assistance can come in the form of home care, food delivery, check-ins, transportation, or another essential service.
What to do when elderly Cannot live alone? ›Look into assisted living or institutional care
If your parent has significant health needs that cannot be met if they continue to live alone, it may be time to look into assisted living.
An informal carer includes any person, such as a family member, friend or neighbour, who is giving regular, ongoing assistance to another person without payment for the care given.
Do informal carers get paid? ›Disabled people and carers. You may receive occasional help from family, friends or neighbours. You might pay them for their help, or just reimburse their expenses or give them small gifts like flowers or chocolates as a thank you.
What is the most common type of informal long term care? ›The majority of older people who need help performing basic everyday activities rely exclusively on assistance from family members or friends for their long-term care needs. Spouses and adult children continue to provide the majority of informal long-term care.
What is another name for caregiver? ›- caretaker.
- guardian.
- nanny.
- carer.
- nurse.
- nannie.
- custodian.
- protector.
Independent caregivers
Independent or private caregivers are people who are hired and employed directly by the senior or their loved ones.
Assisting with personal care: bathing and grooming, dressing, toileting, and exercise. Basic food preparation: preparing meals, shopping, housekeeping, laundry, and other errands. General health care: overseeing medication and prescriptions usage, appointment reminders and administering medicine.
What are the two different types of care for the elderly? ›Regardless of the location in which assistance is provided, at the highest level there are two types of care, skilled care (medical care) and custodial care (non-medical care).
What is the difference between care giver and care assistant? ›These are similar titles and a similar job. There's no real difference between them. Sometimes you'll see Care Assistant, sometimes you'll see Carer, but they're pretty much the same thing.
What are the 6 different types of a caregiver? ›
- In-Home Caregivers. If you're looking for an in-home caregiver for yourself or a loved one, you should know there are different types. ...
- Hospice Caregivers. ...
- Virtual Caregivers. ...
- Adult Daycare Centers. ...
- Nursing Homes. ...
- Assisted Living Facilities.
Unlicensed caregivers may not: Give medications of any kind. Mix medications for clients or fill their daily med minder box. Give advice about medications.
How much is a caretaker paid? ›Average £12.58 per hour
Is this useful?
- the ability to use your initiative.
- customer service skills.
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail.
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
- sensitivity and understanding.
- excellent verbal communication skills.
- knowledge of public safety and security.
- a desire to help people.
AARP's Family Caregiving website is your one-stop shop for tips and tools to help you care for a loved one. It has valuable information about handling medical issues, health records and advance directives, home safety, financial and legal issues, caregiver life balance and much more.
What is the most requested support service for elderly? ›One of the most in-demand services for seniors is personal care. Personal care involves assistance with daily activities ranging from light-touch support to intensive daily care. Examples of personal care may include assistance with: Bathing.
How can I help the elderly in my area? ›- With the Elder Helpers program, you can sign up to help in ways that fit your interests and skills, from reading to handiwork.
- Senior Companions is a Senior Corps program for volunteers who are 55+. ...
- You can also volunteer to help aging seniors through organizations such as the National Council on Aging.
- Aged care worker. Aged care workers provide care and support to older people in aged care homes, clinics, hospitals and private homes. ...
- Attendant care worker. ...
- Disability support worker. ...
- Home care worker. ...
- Personal care worker.
Adult social care is a broad term that refers to support provided by a wide range of agencies and individuals to help those in need including carers to maintain their independence and well-being. This support includes both formal and informal support with personal care, daily living, social activities.
What are the different types of social care services? ›- Advocacy.
- Community activities and engagement.
- Day/drop-in centres.
- Ensuring homes are adapted and accessible.
- Financial support.
- Personal care.
- Providing information and advice.
- Residential care.
What are the signs that an elderly person should not live alone? ›
- Too Great a Burden on Family.
- Decreasing Hygiene or Changes in Personality. ...
- Physical Impairment or Disease. ...
- Early Stages of Alzheimer's. ...
- Healthy, but Can't Live Alone Safely. Even the healthiest among us are prone to slips, trips and falls. ...
To report abuse, call this number 1-833-401-0832 and when prompted enter your 5-digit zip code to be connected to the Adult Protective Services in your county, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. There are many types of abuse. Some of the more common types, with examples, are listed below.
Can social services force elderly into care? ›They can do this if the needs identified by social care needs assessment are not being met at home, if they could endanger other members of their household, or they no longer have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.
What happens if you are old and alone? ›The consequences are profound, older adults who consider themselves lonely are more likely to have trouble completing daily tasks, experience cognitive decline, develop coronary heart disease and even die.
What happens when elderly people run out of money? ›If you have no family, no money, you become a ward of the state or county. The state assigns a guardian to you, and that person makes the decisions about your living situation, your health care, your finances.
Why does my 93 year old mother sleep all the time? ›Boredom, depression, chronic pain and/or nutritional deficiencies can be some of the underlying causes that account for excessive daytime sleeping. Medications can also be a problem.
What is the role of an informal caregiver? ›Who are Informal Caregivers? Informal caregivers are individuals who provide ongoing care and assistance, without pay, for family members and friends in need of support due to physical, cognitive, or mental conditions (Canadian Caregiver Coalition, 2001).
What is considered informal support? ›Informal support means unpaid care and support provided to the youth and/or family by family, friends, neighbors, and others in the community.
What is an informal helper? ›Definition: An informal helper is said to live with the person if the person and helper share the same space (house, apartment/flat). This does not include living in an adjacent or neighboring apartment/flat/house.
How much is a carers Allowance per week? ›How much could I get? Carer's Allowance is worth £69.70 per week for April 2022 to 2023 and is usually paid every four weeks.
How many hours a week do people provide informal care? ›
Some people spend more than 100 hours per week providing care, although 70 per cent of carers provide care for less than 20 hours per week.
How much do carers make an hour? ›Care Professional – Redbridge and Walthamstow £11.50 - £23.00 per hour.
What are the 3 C's of long-term care? ›By adopting a hybrid nurse staffing and scheduling approach that balances all three Cs – costs, coverage, and consistency – nursing homes have the best chance of overcoming their biggest challenges and supporting the needs of their patients and nurses alike.
Who provides the most informal care? ›Thirty eight percent of informal caregiving is provided by children to aging parents. Eleven percent of informal caregiving is provided by spouses, most often to their elderly wives or husbands. disabled children, most often to adult disabled children by middle-aged parents.
Who is most likely to be an informal caregiver? ›Consistent with prior studies, family members are the main source of informal care: Spouses are about 20% of caregivers and provide nearly one-third of the aggregate hours, and adult children provide nearly half of aggregate hours.
What determines who is the primary caregiver? ›A primary carer in family law is the person with whom the child spends the most time with. Most often, this is a parent, however, a primary carer can also be a child's grandparents, aunts, and uncles.
Who is most likely to provide regular care to an aging parent? ›Women are more likely than men to be providing primary care to an aging parent (13% vs. 7%). And those who are not married (15%) are more likely than those who are married (7%) to provide most of the care to a parent.
Who is responsible for taking care of parents? ›Taking care of the parents is a moral duty of the children and cannot be thrust upon them legally, nor such a compulsion can ensure good care of the old people. Was this answer helpful?
Who should be responsible for the elderly Care government or family? ›In summary, financial support for elderly citizens should be a responsibility for both the family and the government. However, because the government is more stable they should take greater responsibility. Sample Answer 3: The concept of old homes is very prevalent in modern societies.
What is the difference between a caregiver and a primary caregiver? ›In many cases, adult children find themselves acting as their aging parents' primary caregivers. Professional caregivers are people who are paid to provide care to others in homes or in care settings. These people are not the primary caregivers in most cases.
What are the three levels of caregiving? ›
...
These are:
- The functional stage.
- The interpersonal stage.
- The intrapersonal stage.
Secondary Caregiver means the current partner of the primary caregiver, the other legal parent of the child or the current partner of the other legal parent of the child. Secondary Caregiver means a person who has parental responsibility for the child but is not the primary caregiver.
What do I do if I can't take care of my elderly parent? ›...
Some elder care options include:
- Having siblings or other family members help provide care.
- Moving a loved one into an elder care facility.
- Hiring in-home caregivers to look after your loved one.
If you're wondering can social services force someone into a care home the answer is only if your care needs are not being met in your home. Then they can place you in an environment where they believe your needs will be met.
What do you do when elderly parent can't walk? ›The best option to help your elderly parent regain some or all of their walking ability is to seek senior care services such as physical therapy. Often these services can come to their home and assist with the home health care of elderly people with restricted mobility.
Are we obligated to look after our elderly parents? ›Yes, you can refuse to care for elderly parents. However, filial responsibility laws obligate children to provide their parents with clothing, food, housing, and medical attention. In the United States, each state has its laws requiring children to take care of their elderly parents.
Are you legally obligated to help your parents? ›Thirty states—including California, Ohio, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but not New York, Texas or your parents' home state, Florida—have "filial responsibility" laws that require the support of indigent parents by children who can afford some degree of help.
Should you give up your life to care for elderly parent? ›Caring for adult parents doesn't necessarily mean giving up your life to care for elderly parents. It can seem like you need to spend all your time focused on caregiving, but that's not true. As a caregiver, it's essential that you practice self-care. You can start by identifying and managing stress.
What to do when your siblings don't help with caring for your parents? ›And if siblings refuse to help, seek help from community resources, friends, or hire professional help. Some siblings in the family may refuse to help care for your parents or may stop helping at some point. If they aren't willing to work on resolving the issues, the best approach may be for you to just let it go.
What are the five most crucial rights of the elderly? ›- Right to be Free to Exercise Civil Rights Under the Law. ...
- Right to Dignity and Respect. ...
- Right to Designate a Guardian or Representative. ...
- Right to be Free from Physical and Mental Abuse. ...
- Right to Communicate and Complain Regarding Treatment, Care or Services. ...
- Right to Privacy. ...
- Right to Participation in Activities.
Under which scheme elderly people who do not have anyone to take care of them are given pension to sustain themselves? ›
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS): A monthly pension of Rs. 200/- is given to elderly aged 60-79 years belonging to BPL category. The pension increases to Rs. 500/-per month upon attaining the age of 80 years.