Change generally requires both group and individual effort. As individuals, we can inform ourselves about the realities of our likely future. We can focus on sharing our knowledge, identifying needs, and organizing to meet those needs. As a group, we can inform politicians, academics and policy-makers about our situation and demand that research be carried out and resources made available for those of us without family caregivers. In our high-tech world, there are many opportunities for not-so-active and even downright infirm older adults to share ideas and make their voices heard.
Doing this is in everybody’s interest since those without family caregivers put extra stress on our already overloaded care systems. Though largely invisible, seniors without family are a growing population. While there is little data estimating the number of seniors without children (not to mention the number without children able to be responsible for them), a 2010 Pew Research Center study (PDF) found the percentage of women aged 40-44 without children to be almost 20%, up from roughly 10% in the 1970s. The large number of single-child families plus the growing geographical dispersion among families will leave more and more older adults effectively childless.
In a politically paralyzed country unsure about whether to subsidize education for young people, the plight of elders without family won’t be high on many priority lists. But it will be high on ours. By being informed and standing together now in anticipation of our future needs, we can push for improved services for ourselves and others as well. Medicare and AARP have rallied to support family caregivers; we must convince them that our needs are equally important.