Health
As solo aging becomes more common, here's how to thrive on your own
As the population continues to get older, more adults are becoming solo agers during their golden years.
“Solo agers have been shown to be as healthy and happy as other older adults and live just as long,” Sara Zeff Geber, PhD., an aging expert and author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” told Fox News Digital.
Some of them, however, face unique challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life and well-being.
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Below, experts offer advice on how to be a successful solo ager.
What is solo aging?
“My definition of a solo ager is someone who does not have family nearby who are able and willing to intervene in a crisis and who will be available to provide support as the solo ager requires it,” Geber said.
More adults are becoming solo agers, but they may face unique challenges. (iStock)
Some people become solo agers by choice — through opting not to have children, for example — or by circumstance, such as the death of a spouse or a child moving away, the expert added.
About 28% of people 65 and older — or 22 million older adults — live alone, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Among adults aged 50 or older, approximately 12% of them are considered “solo agers,” according to a 2021 AARP report.
“Solo agers have been shown to be as healthy and happy as other older adults and live just as long.”
“While the idea of aging without family support has always existed, especially in cases of widows or childless individuals, solo aging as a distinct concept with its own set of challenges and considerations has emerged more prominently in recent decades,” Bei Wu, PhD, vice dean for research at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, told Fox News Digital.
Solo agers are more likely to lack support from friends and family, which can make it difficult to access social, emotional and practical support. (iStock)
Different cultures also view autonomy differently as adults get older.
“In China, the ‘three no’ older adults — those with no children, no ability to work and no income — have faced significant challenges and garnered considerable attention in gerontological research,” said Wu, who has studied social isolation and aging.
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Solo agers are more likely to lack support from friends and family, which can make it difficult to access social, emotional and practical support, the expert added.
Not having a caregiver to provide assistance when the person is sick can also lead to delays in receiving necessary medical attention.
Not having a caregiver to provide assistance when the person is sick can lead to delays in receiving necessary medical attention. (iStock)
Only an estimated one-third of solo agers have someone to help manage their households or handle day-to-day expenses if they are unable to do so, according to the AARP report.
Solo agers also face increased financial vulnerability as they grow older, as they have fewer resources to manage health care, housing and daily living expenses, Wu noted.
Importance of planning ahead
“For solo agers, the key resources I suggest focus on three main areas: community engagement, financial and estate planning, and health care advocacy,” Ailene Gerhardt, a solo aging educator and patient advocate in Massachusetts, told Fox News Digital.
Among adults aged 50 or older, approximately 12% of them are considered “solo agers,” according to a 2021 AARP report. (iStock)
Gerhardt, who is also the founder of The Navigating Solo Network, a free resource library that aims to foster a sense of belonging for older adults, recommends developing two types of networks.
One should consist of professionals who can advocate for legal and medical needs. The other might contain friends and acquaintances who provide additional support.
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“Solo agers should prioritize getting their plans in order, for every day and the long term, including reviewing what kind of care and support they want — and do not want — if they are unable to advocate for themselves,” Gerhardt advised.
That might mean filling out a will that specifies in detail how to distribute assets and having an advance directive, which details the person’s wishes for life-sustaining treatment if they are too ill to make the decision, the expert said.
“In China, the ‘three no’ older adults — those with no children, no ability to work and no income — have faced significant challenges,” an expert said. (iStock)
Approximately half of solo agers have an advance directive — and only 44% have shared it with their primary care doctor, according to AARP.
Part of creating an advance directive is designating a durable power of attorney (DPA), who can speak for the person in periods of illness or incapacitation.
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Experts recommend choosing someone trustworthy who is a generation younger — mature enough to handle a serious end-of-life issue but young enough that they’re not yet experiencing the same aging issues.
Cultivating social connections
Those who place a high value on friendships often have better health and happiness, past research shows.
Older adults who don’t cultivate friendships may be less likely to receive help from friends, which exposes them to more negative emotions triggered by changes in their lives, according to a previous study.
An organic way to foster social connections is to move to a neighborhood with an existing support structure, experts recommend.
An expert encourages solo agers to engage in local activities at senior centers, community organizations and churches as a means of staying active and socially connected. (iStock)
One example is Village to Village Network, a national organization that provides resources and support to help older adults age in their communities.
Members become part of a local “village” that offers support services and opportunities to make social connections.
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“These services range from social and educational programs to health and wellness activities, as well as practical support like transportation, home maintenance and technology coaching,” Barbara Sullivan, national director of the Village to Village Network in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital.
“By providing a variety of resources and services, they help foster a sense of belonging and independence.”
Technology can help solo agers foster connections with others. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Technology can also help enable these connections, according to Wu, the NYU gerontologist.
“Video calls and social media platforms enable older adults to stay connected with family and friends, regardless of distance,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Wu encourages solo agers to engage in local activities at senior centers, community organizations and churches as a means of staying active and socially connected.
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Collagen supplements have exploded in popularity, touted as everything from an anti-aging miracle to a muscle recovery booster.
But a sweeping new review conducted by U.K. researchers suggests that while collagen may help improve skin elasticity and ease arthritis pain, it does little for athletic performance or wrinkle reduction.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University analyzed 16 systematic reviews and 113 randomized controlled trials involving nearly 8,000 participants worldwide, which they say is the most extensive evaluation of collagen’s health effects to date.
The review found consistent evidence that collagen supplementation improves skin elasticity and hydration over time and provides significant relief from osteoarthritis-related joint pain and stiffness, according to findings published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
A large U.K. review found that collagen supplements may improve skin elasticity and hydration over time. (iStock)
The researchers, however, did not find meaningful improvements in post-exercise muscle recovery, soreness or tendon mechanical properties (strength, springiness and stretch resistance).
“Collagen is not a cure-all, but it does have credible benefits when used consistently over time, particularly for skin and osteoarthritis,” co-author Lee Smith, professor of public health at Anglia Ruskin University, said in a statement.
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“Our findings show clear benefits in key areas of healthy aging, while also dispelling some of the myths surrounding its use,” Smith added.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, supports skin, bones, tendons, cartilage and connective tissue, according to experts. Natural collagen production begins to drop in early adulthood and declines more sharply with age.
The study found that collagen supplements may help reduce joint pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis. (iStock)
The review found that long-term collagen supplementation was linked to improved skin firmness and hydration, but did not help skin roughness — a proxy for visible wrinkles.
Benefits appear to accumulate gradually, suggesting that collagen should not be viewed as an “anti-wrinkle ‘quick fix,’ but as a foundational dermal support for individuals seeking holistic skin maintenance,” the researchers said.
“If we define anti-aging as a product or technique designed to prevent the appearance of getting older, then I believe our findings do support this claim for some parameters,” Smith told the BBC. “For example, an improvement in skin tone and moisture is associated with a more youthful-looking appearance.”
Collagen supplementation was linked to reduced pain and stiffness in people with osteoarthritis, with stronger benefits seen over longer periods of use, and showed modest improvements in muscle mass and tendon structure that may support healthy aging.
Collagen did not significantly improve skin roughness, a marker of visible wrinkles. (iStock)
However, it did not show meaningful results when used as a fast-acting sports performance supplement, and evidence for benefits related to cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and oral health was mixed or inconclusive.
Dr. Daniel Ghiyam, a California-based physician and longevity specialist, said the findings align with what he sees in clinical practice.
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“Collagen is a targeted support tool, not a foundation of health or performance,” Ghiyam, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “When marketed that way, it makes sense. When marketed as a cure-all, it doesn’t hold up to the data.”
The authors noted that while many previous collagen studies have received financial support from the supplement industry, the current review did not receive industry funding.
Experts say collagen supplements may offer modest benefits for skin hydration and joint comfort, but they are not a cure-all. (iStock)
The team called for more high-quality clinical trials examining long-term outcomes, optimal dosages and differences between collagen sources, such as marine, bovine and plant-based alternatives.
Among its limitations, the review could not determine whether certain forms of collagen work better than others or what the optimal regimen should be.
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While the review included randomized controlled trials, the quality of the studies varied, with newer research generally showing stronger results.
Experts say more data and studies are needed to build on the findings. They also noted that diet plays a crucial role in skin health.
Collagen supplements, often sold as powders or pills, may improve skin elasticity and ease joint pain, experts say. (iStock)
Dr. Erum Ilyas, a Pennsylvania-based dermatologist and chair of dermatology at Drexel University College of Medicine, noted that the review analyzed previously published meta-analyses rather than generating new primary data.
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“At this time, I have not seen sufficiently strong independent evidence to routinely recommend collagen supplements to my patients,” Ilyas, who was not involved in the review, told Fox News Digital.
“Although some studies show modest improvements in markers such as hydration and elasticity, there remains limited independent, biopsy-confirmed evidence demonstrating sustained increases in dermal collagen content,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the researchers for comment.
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As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
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The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
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“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
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More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
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When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
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A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
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Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
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“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
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Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
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Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
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