Family in Later Life - Essay Example

Essay: Family in Later Life Affiliation with more information about affiliation, research grants, conflict of interest and how to contact What are the trends in being single in later life? How do you think these trends will change as the baby boomer cohort ages? In the recent past there has been an increase in the number of singles in the US. The word single implies a person who is unmarried, but it is more widely used to refer to all those people who are either divorced or are staying alone because their spouses have expired.

For research purposes the term single is taken in its broader meaning, to include any person who lives alone, whether married or otherwise. For understanding the trends in being single in later life one needs to examine the experiences of the elderly as to how they experience life when living alone. “The trends that underlie increased rates of staying single among younger age groups reflect the interplay of social change and demographic shifts.” (Ingrid Arnet Connidis, 2009, P.96). When people are single at an elderly age then they remain quite isolated from the society and are less social unlike those elderly who have a family.

They are not attracted towards their relatives but are closer to friends who are also singles. However, in such a case there is a difference in the concept of both the genders. While the single males prefer friends more as companions older females prefer relatives as companions. There is an increasing trend in criminal cases against the elderly who are single such as telemarketing scams. These types of scams are mainly targeted towards the single elderly because the deceivers know that since the elderly live along, they can be easily trapped.

“Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to telemarketing fraud for a variety of reasons. They often are lonely and isolated from their families, and more willing to believe what someone tells then over the telephone” (Kalbfleisch, 2005, P.134). Old aged people who live alone also stand the chance of falling prey for burglaries, theft etc. There is an increasing trend in the number of single elderly and they face a lot of ental tension because they do not have a reliable person with whom they can share their joys and anxieties.

Following this trend, there the number of old age care homes also have raised considerably. In most cases, the singles individuals have good investment potential. In the US, most people opt to live alone because they prioritized their career over starting a family of their own. Baby boomers fall into two categories: Early baby boomers and late baby boomers. The former are mainly the population that constitutes the elderly of the present day. “On January 1, 2011, the oldest Baby Boomers will turn 65.

Every day for the next 19 years, about 10,000 more will cross that threshold. By 2030, when all Baby Boomers will have turned 65, fully 18% of the nation’s population will be at least that age, according to Pew Research Center population projections. Today, just 13% of Americans are ages 65 and older” (Cohn & Taylor, 2010). Evidence also suggests that “Greater diversity of income within black boomer segment than Baby Boomer Cohort at large.” (Current Assessment Report (CAR) for the Baby Boomer Market, 2002).

When the baby boomer cohorts get aged then there would be a high impact on the trends with respect to income generation and family planning among the US citizens. Gender inequalities will be more visible and there would be greater diversity in income. Overall, the impact of being single strikes a person when he or she attains elder’s status. Basically, they tend to feel lonely and dejected in the absence of a companion to care of in the time of need. Lack of children whom they can love or think about will also add to their sense of loneliness and generate in them a lack of purpose in life.

Reference List Current Assessment Report (CAR) for the Baby Boomer Market, (2002). National Tour Association. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from http://www.agingsociety.org/agingsociety/links/car_boomer.pdf Cohn, DV., & Taylor, P. (2010). Baby Boomers Approach 65 – Glumly. Social and Demographic Trends. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from http://pewsocialtrends.org/2010/12/20/baby-boomers-approach-65-glumly/ Ingrid Arnet Connidis. (2009). Family ties & aging. Pine Forge Press. Retrieved March 12, 2011, from http://books.google.com/books?

id=UBYtR0MGj-YC&pg=PR6&dq=What+are+the+trends+in+being+single+in+later+life&hl=en#v=onepage&q=What%20are%20the%20trends%20in%20being%20single%20in%20later%20life&f=false Kalbfleisch, P. J. (2005). Communication Yearbook 29. Routledge, P.134 Retrieved March 12, 2011, from http://books.google.co.in/books?id=ORM5elP3ZSgC&pg=PA134&dq=why+is+the+research+of+Telemarketing+Scams+against+the+Elderly+important&hl=en#v=onepage&q=telemarketing%20scam&f=false