As the Baby Boomers retire, many are facing decreased social connections, scattered family support and economic challenges.[1] Out of this situation, many seniors find themselves living alone at home. In many ways, these seniors are mirroring the lifestyle of the Generation X children they raised.
Gen X is known as the latchkey generation because their parents left them home alone while they worked. And while Gen X learned to be more independent, they also had less social and emotional support. But now, as Gen X enters their 40s and 50s, they are the ones who are busy working while their aging, latchkey parents are home alone, increasingly at risk for age-related injuries and chronic conditions.
To complicate matters, many members of the sandwiched Generation X, who are raising children while caring for parents, are finding themselves to be the only caregiver available for several aging parents, stepparents, and extended relatives.
How are these challenges being handled? I have noticed some interesting trends:
By Gayle Porter
