027 – Interview: Planning for Aging When Single & Childless

In This Episode:

Dr. K talks with Carol Marak, founder of the Elder Orphans Facebook Group and editor of SeniorCare.com. They discuss aging issues facing those who have no spouse or adult children. They cover:

• Carol’s experience with her own aging parents, which led her to think of her own future as an aging single woman with no children
• The controversy around the term “elder orphan,” and why Carol finally chose to use it
• Isolation, transportation difficulties, affordable housing, and other concerns that are often discussed in the Elder Orphans Facebook group
• Why affordable housing that enables aging-in-community is so important
• Cohousing and other options for aging-in-community
• Choosing a power of attorney for health or finances
• Carol’s top tips for elder orphans

Related Resources:

• Alone And Aging: Creating A Safety Net for Isolated Seniors
• Elder Orphans: A Baby Boomer’s Aging-Alone Plan
• The ‘elder orphans’ of the Baby Boom generation
• Websites to help older adults share homes:
  • Golden Girls Network
  • Silvernest
• What is Cohousing?
• 5@55: The 5 Essential Legal Documents You Need by Age 55
• Addressing Medical, Legal, & Financial Advance care Planning: The Health Aging Checklist Part 6