Academic Articles

Elder Orphans’ Experiences of Advance Planning and Informal Support Network (2019)

This study looked at a group of older people in New Zealand who live alone and don’t have close family nearby to help them — people sometimes called “elder orphans.”

The goal was to understand how they manage daily life, what kind of help they get, and how they think about planning for the future, especially for things like health care and legal decisions if they become sick or unable to speak for themselves.

Citation: Thaggard, S., & Montayre, J. (2019). Elder orphans’ experiences of advance planning and informal support network. Sage Open, 9(3), 2158244019865371.

Elder Orphans Hiding in Plain Sight: A Growing Vulnerable Population (2016)

More and more older adults are living alone, often with multiple health problems and no nearby family or friends to help them. Even though many of these older adults seem to be doing fine most of the time, one small health issue can lead to a big chain of serious problems if they don’t have support.

The authors use the term “elder orphan” to describe these people — older adults who live alone with little or no support system.

Citation: Carney, M. T., Fujiwara, J., Emmert Jr, B. E., Liberman, T. A., & Paris, B. (2016). Elder orphans hiding in plain sight: A growing vulnerable population. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research, 2016, Article 4723250. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/4723250

Estimated Prevalence of Elder Orphans using National Health and Aging Trends Study (2020)

By the year 2050, more than 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 or older. They found that about 2.6% of older adults are already elder orphans, and another 21% are at risk of becoming one — especially if they lose a spouse who currently helps care for them.

As the U.S. population gets older, knowing how many elder orphans there are — and who they are — can help guide better services, policies, and support systems for this vulnerable group

Citation: Roofeh, R., Smith, D. M., & Clouston, S. A. P. (2020). Estimated prevalence of elder orphans using National Health and Aging Trends Study. Journal of Aging and Health, 32(10), 1443–1449. https://doi.org/10.1177/0898264320932382 (pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Competing Risk Analysis of Time to Communal Residence for Elder Orphans (2022)

Researchers used national health data from 2011 to 2019 to see if elder orphans were more likely to move into residential care over time. They found that Elder Orphans were more likely to move into care facilities than those who had support, and people who were at risk of becoming elder orphans (for example, those who had a spouse now but might lose them) were actually less likely to move into care, at least during the study period.

Citation: Roofeh, R., Clouston, S. A. P., & Smith, D. M. (2022). Competing risk analysis of time to communal residence for elder orphans. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(9), 2105–2112. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221098994 (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Adults Without Advocates and the Unrepresented: A Narrative Review of Terminology and Settings (2023)

Researchers reviewed existing studies to better understand what terms are used to describe socially isolated older adults (like "unrepresented patients" or "adults without advocates"), and where they typically show up — both in medical settings (like hospitals) and in the community. They found that there is no standard language used to describe these patients — different terms are used in different places and these individuals are seen in many settings, not just hospitals or clinics.

Citation: Brenner, R., Cole, L., Towsley, G. L., & Farrell, T. W. (2023). Adults without advocates and the unrepresented: A narrative review of terminology and settings. Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine, 9, 23337214221142936. https://doi.org/10.1177/23337214221142936 (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Health Outcomes of Elder Orphans: An Umbrella and Scoping Review of the Literature (2022)

Researchers looked at many studies from 2010 to 2021 to see what is known about the health of isolated older adults. They focused on studies about social isolation, physical isolation, and not having enough caregiving help.

Out of thousands of studies, only 14 studies looked at social or physical isolation and 5 studies looked at unmet caregiving needs. More studies are needed to find ways to improve health outcomes and develop better policies and support for elder orphans.

Citation: Roofeh, R., Smith, D. M., Hale, L., & Clouston, S. A. P. (2022). Health outcomes of elder orphans: An umbrella and scoping review of the literature. Journal of Population Ageing, 17(3), 649–674. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12062-022-09387-1

Solo but Not Alone: An Examination of Social and Help Networks Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults without Close Family (2023)

This study looked at older people who live alone without a husband, wife, or nearby children. It checked who helps them with everyday tasks like personal care and health needs.

The study found that these people get help from siblings, friends, neighbors, and sometimes paid helpers. Even though they usually have less money, they still pay for caregivers more than people who live with a spouse.

Citation: Lowers, J., Zhao, D., Bollens‑Lund, E., Kavalieratos, D., & Ornstein, K. A. (2023). Solo but not alone: An examination of social and help networks among community‑dwelling older adults without close family. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 42(3), 419–426. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221135588

The Backup Plan—A new planning model that keeps Solo Agers in mind (2023)

As people get older, it’s important to plan for their health and well-being, especially for those who are “Solo Agers”—people who don’t have close family or friends to rely on. Research shows that people do better when they work with others. A new tool called The Backup Plan helps Solo Agers connect with others and create a personal support system to keep them safe and cared for.

Citation: Camp, L. J. (2023). The Backup Plan—A new planning model that keeps Solo Agers in mind. Generations, 47(2), 1–6.

Barriers in Health and Social Care Access and Navigation for Elder Orphans: a Scoping Review Protocol (2021)

Traditionally, older adults have depended on family members to help care for them. But today, more and more older people don't have close family or anyone they can rely on for support.

This study looked at what research has been done on elder orphans, especially focusing on what makes it harder or easier for them to get the help they need. 

Citation: Kervin L, Teo K, Churchill R, et alBarriers in health and social care access and navigation for elder orphans: a scoping review protocolBMJ Open 2021;11:e043876. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043876 

(Older) Adults Without Advocates: Support for Alternative Terminology to "Elder Orphan" in Research and Clinical Contexts (2022)

As people live longer, changes like more older adults getting divorced, having fewer kids, and moving away from family are making it harder for them to get help from loved ones. 

Without social support, older adults may have worse health, trouble getting care, or may need to go into nursing homes sooner. It’s important to find and support these people early so they don’t fall through the cracks.

Citation: Kervin, L. M., Chamberlain, S. A., Wister, A. V., & Cosco, T. D. (2022). (Older) Adults without advocates: Support for alternative terminology to “elder orphan” in research and clinical contexts. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(11), 3329‑3333. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17960 (ovid.com)

Meeting the Challenge of a New Generation of Solo Agers (2018)

Many Baby Boomers are now reaching older age, and more of them are becoming "solos"—people who don’t have family to help them with life decisions or health care. Research shows that about 23% of older adults may be at risk of becoming "elder orphans," meaning they have little or no support from family. This can include those without children, those who are estranged from relatives, or whose families are unable to help.

Citation: Camp, L. J., & Peterson, M. (2018, January–February). Meeting the challenge of a new generation of solo agers. Bifocal, 39(3), 33‑35. (americanbar.org)

Confronting the Challenges of Solo Aging (2023) 

Unlike previous generations, many baby boomers are aging alone due to social changes like higher rates of childlessness, divorce, and mobility. Without family caregivers, Solo Agers face unique challenges, especially around healthcare, legal planning, housing, and social isolation. The author emphasizes the need for Solo Agers to plan ahead and build strong support networks, and calls for greater attention from policymakers and communities to meet their needs.

Citation: Geber, S. Z. (2023). Confronting the challenges of solo aging. Generations: Journal of the American Society on Aging, 47(2), 1–4. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48747575

Going Solo: Findings From a Survey of Women Aging without a Partner and Who Do Not Have Children (2016)

More women in the UK are growing old without a partner or kids. This article talks to 76 women over 50 who live this way to learn about their challenges. Many feel lonely and worry about having a good future. The article says we need to do more research to help and support women who age alone.

Citation: Hafford-Letchfield, T., Lambert, N., Long, E., & Brady, D. (2016). Going solo: Findings from a survey of women aging without a partner and who do not have children. Journal of Women & Aging, 28(4), 321–333. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952841.2016.1187544

What Does "Living Alone" Mean? Exploring the Practices of Solo-Living (2025) 

This article talks about how living alone is often seen as a problem, linked to health and social issues. But by talking to people who live alone, the authors show that living alone can be very different for each person. People use different ways to handle challenges and stay independent. Understanding this can help us learn more and think differently about living alone.

Citation: Karakayali, N., & Azizoglu, C. (2025). What does “living alone” mean? Exploring the practices of solo-living. *Journal of Sociology*, *61*(2), 258–280. (https://doi.org/10.1080/00380253.2024.2444255)

Living Alone, Loneliness, and Health Among Older Black Women (2025)

This study looked at older Black women living alone and found that, unlike common beliefs, living alone didn’t harm their health and was linked to feeling less lonely. Stronger community ties also helped reduce loneliness. For these women, living alone often means independence, not isolation. The study suggests we should support social connections through community programs and age-friendly policies.

Citation: Versey, H. S., & Gibbons, J. (2025). Aging alone (while Black): Living alone, loneliness, and health among older Black women. *The Gerontologist, 65*(4), (https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnae175)