Why are more women living alone than men?
A 2016 Pew Research Center analysis found that from 1990 to 2014, the share of older adults living alone declined by 3%, to 26% Americans, and the population share of women over the age of 65 living alone decreased, as well.
Because of women’s higher life expectancy, they are still the majority of U.S. adults ages 65 and older – in 2014 that age group included 25.9 million women, compared with 20.3 million men. According to the Administration on Aging, 37% of women in this age bracket live by themselves. However, due to the fact that men’s life expectancy has risen more quickly than women’s in recent decades, this gender gap in seniors living alone is decreasing.
Despite the narrowing of the gender gap in older adults living alone, men actually remain about half as likely as women to live alone today.
There is also a sharp decline in older women and men living in group homes or nursing homes; in 1990, 27% of women ages 85+ lived in nursing homes, yet today that number is just 13%. This aligns with the AARP “Healthy @ Home” study, which found that nine in ten adults ages 65+ wanted to continue living at home for as long as possible. Older Americans are remaining healthier and doing more to ensure that they can live at home longer. One of the groundbreaking new technologies that is helping our ageing population remain at home is the Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). With the click of a button, users are connected with someone who can help assess the situation and send the necessary help. Whether it be a fall, an illness, or any other personal emergency, PERS (Like our three different models) are there to ensure that users are assisted immediately.
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