Thekabarnews.com—More and more older Americans are retiring without spouses or children. This creates new financial, legal, and healthcare challenges that experts say need planning earlier than ever.

One is Amy Kant, a 65-year-old Massachusetts resident who has been considering appointing a power of attorney for years. She considered this after caring for a close friend in the last stages of life.

She thought about making that decision nearly a decade ago. However, she has not yet formally named someone to take care of her finances in the event she can’t do so herself.

“It all falls on me,” Kant said, referring to responsibilities that come with getting old and no immediate family to fall back on, as quoted in The Wall Street Journal.

Kant is part of a growing group of solo agers. These are older adults who are raising themselves without a spouse or children.

AARP examined U.S. Census data and estimated that roughly 10 percent of the more than 125 million adults 50 and older in the country are in this category. That means at least 12.5 million Americans may have to learn to age mostly on their own.

Experts point to several factors contributing to the growth of this population. These include rising divorce rates among older adults, declining marriage rates, and a growing number of estranged family relationships.

Growing old alone is about much more than saving for retirement. In addition to planning for future housing, caregiving, and long-term medical needs, solo agers often have to draft legal documents. This includes powers of attorney, healthcare directives, wills, and estate plans drafted on their own.

Many older adults lack close relatives to help them with major decisions. Therefore, they need to build trusted networks of friends, legal advisors, healthcare professionals, and financial planners.

Experts recommend making these arrangements as soon as possible to reduce uncertainty in the event of a medical emergency or health decline.

For much of her life Kant had the freedom to be single. She stayed active, doing yoga and walking several miles a day.

But recent health issues — back surgery and a heart valve replacement — have changed her perspective.

Her condo just outside of Boston was a temporary recovery space in rehab. This highlights the practical challenges of managing serious medical conditions without immediate family caregivers.

While she still loves working in her home studio, created with her hands, Kant realizes that as her needs change, she may need to move into a smaller, more accessible place.

The rise in solo aging is part of broader societal changes, not just personal lifestyle choices.

Healthcare systems, retirement communities, financial institutions, and policymakers are increasingly being asked how to support older adults. Specifically, the trend affects those who cannot count on traditional family caregiving networks.

Experts say solo agers should start planning well before retirement. That involves setting up legal protections, finding support networks, and exploring long-term care options. In addition, it includes talking through future healthcare wishes with trusted professionals.

The issue of aging alone has become an increasingly important concern for millions of Americans, given their increasing life expectancy and changing family structures.

For Amy Kant and others like her, the challenge is not just financial security. It also means planning for the time when independence is still possible. Meanwhile, it means making sure that trusted people can step in when help inevitably becomes necessary.

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