For decades, retirement planning has quietly assumed a built-in support system: a spouse to share expenses and decisions with or adult children nearby to help as health needs grow. That assumption may no longer be true.
A growing share of older Americans are what's known as "solo agers," people 50 and older who are unmarried, childless, or otherwise living without close family to rely on as they age. Roughly one in ten adults over 50 already lives alone without a partner or children, and shifting attitudes toward relationships and parenthood suggest that number will keep climbing.
This isn't a niche demographic footnote. It's a structural shift that impacts how people should think about savings, healthcare, housing, and legal planning, and it's a conversation worth having with clients well before retirement arrives.
Longer life spans, especially for women, and declining marriage rates are two of the biggest drivers behind the trend. Add in adult children who live far from aging parents, or family relationships that have grown strained, and the pool of people without a built-in caregiver keeps expanding. Further, of solo agers with at least one adult child living nearby, about 11% are estranged from their children, a reminder that having family isn't the same as having support.
The country's social safety net has always depended heavily on family caregiving, and that strain is only expected to grow as more people age without that support in place.
Solo agers face the same retirement math as everyone else but with less margin for error. There's no second income to fall back on, no spouse's Social Security benefit to coordinate with, and often no adult child to step in if a plan comes up short.
Healthcare costs are where this gap shows up most clearly. A couple retiring at age 65 today can expect to spend about $300,000 out of pocket on healthcare over the rest of their lives. Actual costs will vary depending on retirement age, health status, and other individual factors. This works out to roughly $150,000 for a single retiree. And that number doesn't even cover everything. Hearing aids, vision, dental, and most long-term care services like nursing homes or in-home care, can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars and typically aren't covered by insurance at all.
For financial professionals, this means the usual retirement income conversation, how much to save, when to claim benefits, how to draw down assets, must expand to include a realistic accounting of long-term care costs and how a client without family caregivers plans to pay for help if they need it.
Beyond the cost question, solo agers face a practical problem: who shows up with them to the doctor, catches what they miss, or notices when something's wrong? Only about a quarter of solo agers have someone they can count on for everyday help like cooking or cleaning, and fewer than two in five know someone who would help manage their ongoing care. Roughly four out of five haven't planned for ongoing living assistance, and only about 41% have a living will or advance directive in place.
The absence of a partner can make a huge difference in a solo ager’s health and wellbeing. Without someone checking in regularly, warning signs like high blood pressure, a minor stroke, or a decline in cognition can go unnoticed for far too long.
The good news is that this is a problem with a solution, just one that requires intention. Professional care managers can step into the coordinating role a family member might otherwise play, helping evaluate care needs and connect clients to the right providers. Concierge physicians, geriatric specialists, and a trusted friend or paid companion to accompany someone to appointments can all help close the gap that a spouse or child would otherwise fill.
This solo ager trend should shape how retirement planners talk to their clients:
The solo ager trend isn't going away. If anything, it's a preview of where a much larger share of the population is headed. Building a retirement and healthcare strategy that doesn't rely on a built-in caregiver isn't just smart planning for solo agers—it's smart planning for everyone. The more intentional your plan is today, the more independence and confidence you'll have in the future.
At RMC Group, we help individuals and business owners create retirement strategies designed for real life. Whether you're preparing for your own retirement, evaluating your long-term healthcare options, or looking to strengthen the retirement benefits you offer your employees, our team can help you navigate the decisions with confidence. From retirement plan design and guidance on succession and exit planning for business owners, we take a comprehensive approach that helps protect your future while supporting the people who depend on you. No matter what your retirement looks like, we're here to help you build a plan that gives you confidence for whatever comes next.
Contact our Retirement Team today at 239-298-8210 or click here to schedule a meeting.