Gen X - Senior Living Alone
According to the U.S. Census, 11.3 million people, almost 30 percent of those aged 65 and older in the U.S., live alone. For women aged 85 and older, that number grows to more than half. Many of those are afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Nationwide, the Alzheimer’s Association reports that 800,000 people, one in seven of those with Alzheimer’s disease, live by themselves in the community. Living alone at home puts them at increased risk of early placement in nursing homes because of malnutrition, falls, and illness as compared with those who have a live-in companion. “Inadequate self-care has been cited as a cause of increased need for emergency medical services among people with dementia who live alone,” the Alzheimer’s annual report cited. Those living solo also tend not to seek medical care in a timely manner, and they are more vulnerable to injury in fires and accidents.
The growth in the number of men living alone is especially dramatic, rising from less than 6 percent in 1970 to more than 12 percent in 2012, according to a Census Bureau report released last year. Fifteen percent of households are women living alone. While some attribute the steady increase to breakdown in the American family, a new study of census data suggests that economic factors play a larger role. It points out that the rate of living alone tends to grow fastest during periods of economic expansion. Other causes for the phenomenon are improving health and finances among older people, and younger people waiting longer to get married, according to the study, which relied on nonpublic details of the census data by Census Bureau demographer Rose Kreider.
Keeping Your House in Order – If your senior doesn’t qualify for home health or even if she does, but not for extended care such as light housekeeping or meal preparation there are agencies that specialize in providing nonmedical services. These services can be pricey, so you may also want to consider hiring someone privately just be sure to thoroughly check references and even request a background check.Don’t forget about the Meals on Wheels program, which provides meals to the elderly living alone. Their website helps you find your local program and contact information to inquire about services.
House Calls – If your loved one has a qualifying acute or chronic medical condition that warrants home health services, you may be able to get weekly nurse visits or even some assistance with bathing and basic daily activities of daily living. However, this typically does not include housekeeping or assisting with errands and is limited for the time the senior qualifies for home health per Medicare or insurance guidelines. To see if home health assistance is available, inquire with the senior’s primary care physician for a referral. Then a home health agency will assess to see if your loved one qualifies for services.