Remember the scene in “Sex and the City” where Miranda is worried she will die alone and her cat will eat her face? No? It’s okay–I guess you had better things to do with your time. Anyway, that is not how I want to die though I will hopefully be surrounded by cats. Or maybe I will have been very thoughtful and tried to ensure that I outlive my cats so that they don’t have to go through the grief of losing me.
In any case, this article lists things we need to do to prepare for our lives as “elder orphans.”
According to research and articles on “elder orphans,” everybody is at risk of becoming one. But the demographics that are at risk the most are the following:
- Older adults who are isolated
- Older adults estranged from siblings and family
- Single older adults with no children
- Single older adults with estranged children
- Childless couples
- Married couples with estranged children
- Single older adults with no or limited social circles and support group
- Older women without support
In other words, neither having children nor being married will make us safe from becoming “elder orphans.” It’s dependent on how we build our relationships and ties with people who may be reliable support systems for us in the future. Read the full article here:
Although I am struggling with the image of Miranda and her cats, this post helps continue the conversation. Linked article about elder orphans identified that the issues may be faced by those with childten, as well. Feels promising that the are institutional efforts being considered and hopefully implemented.