Before Robert A. Maurer's wife passed away 15 years ago, she asked a neighbor family to watch over him in her absence.
"I have one son in California and another in Delaware, so I'm thankful for my 'adopted' family that promised my wife while she was dying that they would take care of me," the now 91-year-old said.
With their support, Maurer, of Selinsgrove, said he has peace of mind about being able to make it to doctor's appointments and shopping trips.
"They make sure I take my medication and there's food in the pantry," he said.
The number of seniors like Maurer who are aging alone without a spouse or close family nearby is on the rise, senior advocates say.
Several staff members at Union-Snyder Area Agency on Aging have reported a rise in seniors "living in social isolation" due to relatives leaving the area for jobs elsewhere or parents outliving their children, Executive Director Holly Kyle said.
Carol Marak, a Waco, Texas-based editor of Seniorcare.com, refers to these seniors as "elder orphans" and includes herself among them.
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"I am aging alone. We represent over 25 percent of the growing senior population," said the 65-year-old, twice-divorced and childless Marak, who in recent years took turns with siblings caring for their ailing parents until they died.
"At that point, I thought, 'Hmm, who's going to do this for me?'" she said. "I never thought about it before, quite frankly."
Kyle said the challenges for seniors on their own range from finding transportation to companionship.
"Seniors realize they can count on us," she said, yet, the agency has its own challenges meeting all the needs.
"Sometimes it is hard for us," Kyle said. More than 3,000 seniors in Snyder and Union counties are served by the agency, but as of Dec. 31, there were 100 seniors on a waiting list in need of aid. "That's unsettling."
Receiving service
In Northumberland County, 1,400 of the 3,000 seniors that have received services from the aging agency since July 1 live alone, Director Karen Leonovitch said.
Of that 1,400, about 450 live at or below poverty and that same number are over the age of 85, she said.
Because someone lives on their own does not mean they are isolated, said Kathleen Lynn, director of the Columbia Montour Aging Office, which serves about 2,000 seniors a year.
"They could be living in senior apartments, could be highly involved in their churches ... senior centers or rec centers," said Lynn, who encourages the seniors served by her agency to get involved in the community and stay connected with others.
Expected to double
Nationwide, an estimated one in five adults over age 50 — at least 8 million — are affected by isolation which can lead to a number of medical problems, including depression, anxiety and weakened immune systems, AARP reports. By 2050, according to the U.S. Census, the 65-and-older population is expected to nearly double to 83.7 million from 43.1 million in 2012.
These figures demonstrate more services are needed to accommodate the elderly who are on their own without a spouse, children or companion to help them with the daily tasks of meal preparation, medical care and bill paying, said Marak, who moved to another city to live near her sister and is now dealing with issues that include choosing a health care proxy.
"If you have siblings, move near them. Go live near a good friend, or share a house in an affordable location with public transportation," she suggests.
Social life, good connection
Joe Silva, 85, relocated from the Wilkes-Barre area and his two grown children to Selinsgrove two decades ago to live near a friend. They remain good friends today and frequently gather at the bustling senior center on Water Street where food, music, games and dancing are enjoyed by the 60 or so members that show up each weekday.
"I have a social life here. It's a good connection and helps keep me from being depressed," Silva said, before joining a group of seniors for an afternoon bingo game led by center director Eunice Troxell.
German-born Martha Burst followed her sister to Selinsgrove 47 years ago. Today the never-married 77-year-old has outlived all three of her siblings. Her closest relatives are a nephew in Maryland and a niece in Georgia and now she, like Silva, has found companionship and a connection at the senior center.
"Here I can talk to people," Burst said.
Eugene Boylan, 83, has been a widower for four years and both of his daughters live out-of-state, but he's managed to stay in his own home in Selinsgrove with the help of others and by getting involved in senior center activities.
He urges thier so-called "elder orphans" to get out of the house and volunteer or visit a community center.
"I'm thankful for the fellowship and camaraderie here," he said, referring to friends like Maurer and center staff. "They check on me when I'm not here. Especially if I'm not here for poker day."
