Tough being old and on your own

 Around half of U.S. seniors living alone can't afford their basic necessities.

Fifty-four percent of older U.S. women who live on their own and 45% of older men in the same situation are either impoverished by federal standards or cannot cover their necessary expenses, according to the Elder Index, a project of the Gerontology Institute at the University of Massachusetts Boston. 

5M older women living alone, 2M older men living alone, and more than 2M older couples having incomes that made them economically insecure

"...The cost of living is just too high for older Americans, and their earned benefits aren't keeping pace with these costs," the Alliance for Retired Americans tweeted.

 Ramsey Alwin, president and chief executive of the National Council on Aging, explained, "There's a myth that Social Security and Medicare miraculously take care of all of people's needs in older age. The reality is they don't, and far too many people are one crisis away from economic insecurity."

Around Half of US Seniors Living Alone Can't Afford Basic Expenses: Study (commondreams.org)