Coping As An Elder Orphan

As the English language continues to evolve, driven by technological advances and changes in society, we constantly acquire new words or expressions. One such term from recent times is the concept of “elder orphans”. The term was first coined by Dr. Maria T. Carney, Chief of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine at Northwell Health in New York. 

It refers to people who, when they get older, have no family to support them. By choice or through circumstances, they may have never been married or not had any children. They’re destined to grow old on their own.

A report co-authored by Dr. Carney and published on the Hindawi website in 2016, estimates that around 1 in 5 Americans aged 65 or over are deemed to be, or at the risk of becoming, elder orphans. Thanks also to an increasingly aging population, this figure will continue increasing. This is compounded by a marked increase in people who never marry or have children.

This is a worrying development but, with some foresight, many of these people can equip themselves to cope with solo aging or being an elder orphan. Let’s look at a few things you can do to prepare yourself to age alone and without undue stress.

Plan ahead – the sooner the better

If you find yourself in this vulnerable group, it’s best to face up to the fact and implement a plan. Whatever plans you make, you will almost invariably require some kind of financial investment. The earlier you start saving, the less of a burden this will be. There are many options for assisted living or caregiver plans that can be commenced well ahead of time. 

You also don’t want to find yourself suffering a sudden turn due to a family history of dread diseases and then not having any support to fall back on. Another major worry is that, once you start experiencing cognitive decline, it will get far more difficult to keep track of everything and to cope as an elder orphan.

Don’t isolate yourself

There are two aspects here. One is that maintaining a social life definitely keeps depression at bay and has a positive impact on a person’s overall health and happiness. Aside from staving off loneliness, having more friends also means you’ll tend to be more active, both mentally and physically.   

The other aspect is that almost every elder orphan will eventually require some support. Support may include things like getting everyday chores done, looking after financial affairs or other tasks of an administrative nature. 

The consequences of neglecting this aspect can be catastrophic. When elder orphans lose the ability to do things for themselves, their lives can become very difficult unless they’ve taken care of these things. In finding someone to step into this support role, there are options.

Options for care services

The first option would be to find a relative that may be willing to assist. Having no first-degree relatives, you’ll have to look further afield to relatives that may not be so close. Although this option doesn’t always work out, it’s nevertheless the best starting point. 

Next, you could consider arranging for caregiver services. There are several organizations all over the US that provide a portfolio of care options. These options will all come at a cost and may be beyond the reach of some. It’s still a good idea to look at the options though, as most of these service providers can tailor packages to suit every individual’s needs. 

Lastly, if your financial position allows it, you may opt for living in a retirement community or assisted living facility. Some of these facilities simply provide accommodation in a community setting. It may be supplemented by services like public transport and assistance with some chores. Others have complete care facilities including inter alia, catering, medical assistance and full-time caregivers.

This is possibly the most frightening prospect for elder orphans. Shelter is one of our most basic survival needs. It can also be a daunting subject to deal with. You need not navigate this alone. Organizations like The Kendal Corporation, founded in the 1960s, specialize in assisting elder orphans to grow old gracefully.

Simplify the burdens of living  

The burdens of living – that sounds ominous but it’s not. We’re merely referring to a long list of “life administration” tasks that we tend to take for granted. Tasks such as managing medication, buying groceries and other consumable supplies, banking and paying bills and so forth.

Managing medication

Once we get into our sixties, it becomes almost a given that we’ll be using some form of medication or supplement regularly. Suddenly, we’re counting out daily doses, filling prescriptions every month or so and having periodic follow-ups with the doctor to check that all’s well.

As simple as it sounds, using a pill box or dosage organizer makes a big difference. Coupled with a reminder alarm, if necessary, can ensure that you never miss a dose. Setting up a home delivery service with the nearest pharmacy also removes the hassle of making sure that you don’t run out. Most pharmacies nowadays will automatically deliver your prescription according to a pre-determined schedule.

Banking and bills

Bill payments can be considerably simplified by creating standing orders or direct debit authorizations. Switching to debit and credit cards all but eliminates visits to the bank or automatic teller to draw cash. Coupled with a switch to online shopping, you may never see the inside of a bank again. Or a shop, for that matter. 

Groceries and supplies  

Home delivery of groceries is common nowadays. For little or no extra charge, a supermarket will deliver your order to your doorstep, sometimes within as little as an hour. You could even register a fixed shopping list that gets delivered at regular intervals.

A supply of elderly care products is another aspect that we will probably become acquainted with. We refer here to incontinence and impaired mobility products. At LL Medico, we have been helping elder orphans and solo agers ease this burden for more than 25 years. Whether it be incontinence products, mobility aids or diabetic requirements, we have them all. And more. 

With free shipping with no minimum order value and Autoship for automatic, scheduled deliveries, your needs are taken care of with a few clicks of the mouse. What’s more, for repeat orders, you’ll earn a 5% loyalty reward. You may also be eligible for a substantial discount on your first Autoship order. 

Don’t delay, contact the team at LL Medico today to discuss your needs. You can call us at (855) 422-4556 or speak to one of our consultants on live chat Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm EST. Alternatively, you can email us 24/7 at [email protected].