More than 16 million Americans are living alone while growing old – an unprecedented number. Yet surprisingly little is known about their experiences.

This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities. These seniors are also at higher risk of becoming isolated, depressed, and inactive, having accidents, and neglecting to care for themselves.

KFF Health News’ Navigating Aging columnist, Judith Graham, spent six months talking to older adults living alone about their hopes and fears, their challenges and strategies for aging solo. On December 11th from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET, KFF Health News and The John A. Hartford Foundation will host a webinar featuring six of the seniors in Graham’s series, GOING IT ALONE, discussing frankly what it’s like to grow old on their own.

KFF Health News
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues. Together with Policy Analysis and Polling, KFF Health News is one of the three major operating programs at KFF. KFF is an endowed nonprofit organization providing information on health issues to the nation. KHN receives grant funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation, among other sources, and retains full editorial control over its journalism.

The John A. Hartford Foundation
The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the Foundation has three areas of emphasis: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.