More Baby Boomers are living alone. One reason why: ‘gray divorce’ | CNN
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Rising divorce rates for people over 50 are one reason why an increasing number of older Americans are living alone.

The number of older Americans living alone is on the rise. Nearly 16 million people aged 65 and older in the US lived solo in 2022, three times as many who lived alone in that age group in the 1960s. And as Baby Boomers age, that number is expected to grow even more, raising big questions about the country’s future.

  • @MicroWave@lemmy.worldOP
    33•1 year ago

    Some older people initiating divorces feel they’ve simply drifted too far apart from their spouses, while some have suffered abuse or discovered shocking transgressions, Myres says. All of them – including some clients in their 80s – feel like any years of life they have left are too precious to spend with the wrong person.

    • @krische@lemmy.world
      20•1 year ago

      My completely baseless take: they were fine making the “I hate by husband/wife” jokes while working full time; but once retired and spending time together, they realize they actually really do not like each other.

      • deweydecibel
        20•1 year ago

        No, it’s that in the 2020s divorce is far more acceptable and because women are more capable of supporting themselves now, so they’re not trapped in their marriages.

        What you’re describing has always been happening. For every generation. It’s just that nowadays retired boomer women aren’t shackled to their husband for the rest of their life.

        Yet another case of the old and conservative reaping the benefits of the progress others have been making.