Record number of baby boomers living alone claims study
LOS ANGELES: The number of baby boomers living alone has increased in the past two decades following shifts in gender and marriage attitudes, according to a National Institutes Of Health report, leading to a higher risk of problems affecting physical and mental health.
Almost 30 per cent of all US households in 2022 are single-person households, a figure that has risen 13 per cent since the 1960s, reports the US Census Bureau.
Those statistics are boosted by the almost 26 million US residents aged 50 or above who are living alone. In 2000, that figure stood at 15 million. Baby boomers now make up the biggest share of that statistic for the first time.
Attitudes towards marriage and family have visibly evolved through generations as baby boomers have placed individual fulfillment ahead of traditional family roles.
With more focus on individuality, divorce has become increasingly accepted in society as many feel being single is better than remaining trapped in an unhappy marriage.
The media reports baby boomers – aged 58 to 76 – have had greater opportunities for financial independence and professional advancement than earlier generations.
College professor Donna Selman tells the newspaper she’s “mostly grateful” to be single due to the emotional and financial autonomy her mother never had.
An unnamed videographer also said he was happy to live alone but was concerned over who would care for him in his later years.
While some have opted to live alone, whether due to divorce or children moving out, some lack the security of government pensions or direct family.
Difficulties for single households are also credited to the nation’s rising housing market as many senior people live in large homes with hefty maintenance costs.
Only seven per cent of newbuilds are smaller homes, despite surging numbers of one-person households. This, in turn, has propelled the price of small units.
The National Institute On Aging claims physical and mental problems such as high blood pressure, depression, and cognitive decline are related to social isolation and loneliness. The institute said those at greater risk of problems were people who found themselves unexpectedly alone after the sudden death of a spouse or loss of mobility.
An active social life was also concluded to help “moderately buffer” loneliness at an older age. The study by Markus Schafer, a sociologist at Baylor University, claimed extra-household connections didn’t fully replace the companionship offered by living with someone.