Will you stay connected in retirement? I have talked about the 78 million baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, who began turning 65 years old in 2011. Over 10,000 people each and every day will retire for almost two decades. That represents more than one quarter of the US population turn 65 and, as staggering as these numbers are, they are only a part of the picture. The other part is the specific demographics of this large boomer population.
Recently, there have been numerous articles written about married couples retiring separately, the increasing divorce rate of people 50+, and the number of people living alone in their later years. What is going on with the baby boomers? I want to discuss some of the differences and similarities between those married and single as they retire and how couples and singles can learn from each other.
In his book Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, sociologist Eric Klinenberg revealed an interesting shift in boomer demographics based on seven years of interviews. Since 1950, the number of single adults living alone has gone from 4 million to over 31 million today. In 1950, 22% of American adults were single. Today that number is more than 50%. This significant increase in the number of single adults and the number of those living alone gives one pause to question what is causing this shift.
In previous generations, families tended to be traditional with spouses staying together longer and extended family members relying on each other more. In recent decades, families have become more mobile and their lives are not as interwoven as they used to be. Also, divorce is more accepted by society and there are more women in the workforce who are able to support themselves. Furthermore, some boomers have never been married and are purposely choosing to live alone.
What also makes it easier to live alone is that our life expectancy has increased dramatically and with healthier longevity comes the benefit of more independence. With advances in medical and health services, it’s not unusual for people to live in good health 20 to 30 years after they retire. With all of these changes, we need to integrate more social support systems into our lifestyle to support us in later years.
I am not advocating for either a single or a married lifestyle. I do know that staying connected in retirement is good for our emotional, physical, and mental health and has been shown to delay the effects of dementia. Connections come in a variety of forms: family, friends, neighbors, former work colleagues, individuals who share a common faith or interest, and those who bond over adventure or adversity.
Staying connected in retirement takes thought and time especially when more than half of the adult population lives alone. Identify ways you see yourself making connections in retirement. Where are you already connected? What friendships or relationships would you like to explore? Don’t become part of the loneliness epidemic.