The world has changed a lot in terms of how we care for our elders. In the past, larger families would stick together and provide support for aging relatives. With smaller and more disconnected families today, seniors often find themselves more isolated in their later years, causing concern for how they will be cared for.
Americans entering their later years are often doing so without a safety net of family or close friends, raising difficult questions about who will be there when they need help most. Recent findings highlighted the growing trend of “aging alone,” with many seniors lacking traditional family support systems.
Lacking that family support, older Americans need help from the community. Society should take care of people who have paid into it for years. However, achieving that is beyond the average citizen. It requires leadership and funding.
As the trend continues, advocates say solutions will depend on both grassroots networks and public investment, ensuring that no one faces old age entirely alone. Read more about this vital issue here.
One way to ensure that seniors have the support they need is to make sure that Social Security benefits go far enough to support them in their later years. Unfortunately, that is often not the case. That’s why we’re urging Congress to pass a bill we call the Elder Relief Act to remedy this. Learn more here.