Being Single and Senior

United States Census Bureau data shows the majority of us will end up being senior and single for at least part of our Safe Retirement. The 2009 census numbers state that of those aged sixty-five and older 29% are widowed and 9.6% are divorced. Four percent have never been married which means over 40% of those over sixty-five are living on their own and as people age this percentage increases.

Single and Senior - 

            Given the statistics I quoted above, being single for at least part of our retirement is a reality we might as well get ready to enjoy. After all, what’s the alternative? This is your life and with a little planning and effort these years will be the best yet.

            When you think about it, you aren’t ever really alone in life. You have family and friends and neighbors, and even strangers. People are all around you going through the process of life just like you are. By losing your spouse you aren’t any more alone than you ever were, you simply don’t have that person to be with anymore. You need other good friends. I’ll get into dating and finding a new love in the next section, here I want to discuss good habits and ideas for how to get the best out of being single and senior. Most of these are reiterations of what I’ve discussed in past chapters but they’re worth revisiting in this context.

            The best thing you can do for yourself as you age is to stay active and positive. Period. If you find yourself single and wonder how you’re going to get used to it, much less be happy again, get out of the house. Call up a friend, go to church, volunteer, take a kite flying class, it doesn’t matter what, just do it. This is how you will learn to thrive and it’s especially important if you’ve just lost your spouse.

            It may be difficult at first but you need to be disciplined. The more active you become, the easier it’ll be. Pretty soon life starts to take on an energy of its own and before you know it you’re back to enjoying life even though you’re single.

            Remember that you need to communicate about important matters with your family and heirs. If something happens to you and you don’t have a spouse or significant other to take care of things, who will? Do you want your kids sifting through piles of papers and sticky notes trying to find the password to your email?

            Keep a list of important information and let someone know where it is and what it contains. Consider the following:

Ø  Passwords for email accounts

Ø  Safety deposit box location

Ø  Power of attorney, both medical and legal

Ø  Estate planning documents including a living will and what type of funeral you want

Ø  Bank and brokerage accounts

Ø  Names and phone numbers of your closest friends

Ø  Instructions for what to do with your pet if you’re unable to look after it any longer

Also, as we get older it’s good to have someone to talk to about decisions we’re thinking of making. Seniors are sometimes the target of fraud and if you’re considering making a new investment, especially a large one, be sure and get a second opinion.

Get a second opinion on any major medical issue and make sure you involve someone else. This isn’t so they can tell you what to do, although if you value their opinion in these types of matters that’s fine, rather it’s so someone else will understand what choices you had and why you did what you did. It may never matter, but one day it might.

Discuss with your children what you want them to have after you die and make sure you put it in writing in your will.

The nut of it is, if you’re single make sure you involve other people in the important decisions and directions of your life. Then, get out and have fun!

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE UPCOMING BOOK, SAFE 4 RETIREMENT : THE 4 KEYS TO A SAFE RETIREMENT - FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @SAFE4RETIREMENT AND ON FACEBOOK


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