As the population continues to get older, more adults are becoming solo agers during their golden years.

“Solo agers have been shown to be as healthy and happy as other older adults and live just as long,” Sara Zeff Geber, Ph.D., an aging expert and author of “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” told Fox News Digital.

Some of them, however, face unique challenges that can significantly impact their quality of life and well-being.

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Below, experts offer advice on how to be a successful solo ager.

What is solo aging?

“My definition of a solo ager is someone who does not have family nearby who are able and willing to intervene in a crisis and who will be available to provide support as the solo ager requires it,” Geber said.

Some people become solo agers by choice — through opting not to have children, for example — or by circumstance, such as the death of a spouse or a child moving away, the expert added.

About 28% of people 65 and older — or 22 million older adults — live alone, according to 2023 data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Among adults aged 50 or older, approximately 12% of them are considered “solo agers,” according to a 2021 AARP report.

“Solo agers have been shown to be as healthy and happy as other older adults and live just as long.”

“While the idea of aging without family support has always existed, especially in cases of widows or childless individuals, solo aging as a distinct concept with its own set of challenges and considerations has emerged more prominently in recent decades,” Bei Wu, Ph.D., vice dean for research at the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, told Fox News Digital.

Solo agers are more likely to lack support from friends and family, which can make it difficult to access social, emotional and practical support. (iStock)

Different cultures also view autonomy differently as adults get older.

“In China, the ‘three no’ older adults — those with no children, no ability to work and no income — have faced significant challenges and garnered considerable attention in gerontological research,” said Wu, who has studied social isolation and aging.

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Solo agers are more likely to lack support from friends and family, which can make it difficult to access social, emotional and practical support, the expert added.

Not having a caregiver to provide assistance when the person is sick can also lead to delays in receiving necessary medical attention.

Not having a caregiver to provide assistance when the person is sick can lead to delays in receiving necessary medical attention. (iStock)

Only an estimated one-third of solo agers have someone to help manage their households or handle day-to-day expenses if they are unable to do so, according to the AARP report.

Solo agers also face increased financial vulnerability as they grow older, as they have fewer resources to manage health care, housing and daily living expenses, Wu noted.

The importance of planning ahead

“For solo agers, the key resources I suggest focus on three main areas: community engagement, financial and estate planning, and health care advocacy,” Ailene Gerhardt, a solo aging educator and patient advocate in Massachusetts, told Fox News Digital.

Among adults aged 50 or older, approximately 12% of them are considered “solo agers,” according to a 2021 AARP report. (iStock)

Gerhardt — who is also the founder of The Navigating Solo Network, a free resource library that aims to foster a sense of belonging for older adults — recommends developing two types of networks.

One should consist of professionals who can advocate for legal and medical needs. The other might contain friends and acquaintances who provide additional support.

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“Solo agers should prioritize getting their plans in order, for every day and the long term, including reviewing what kind of care and support they want — and do not want — if they are unable to advocate for themselves,” Gerhardt advised.

That might mean filling out a will that specifies in detail how to distribute assets and having an advance directive, which details the person’s wishes for life-sustaining treatment if they are too ill to make the decision, the expert said.

“In China, the ‘three no’ older adults — those with no children, no ability to work and no income — have faced significant challenges,” an expert said. (iStock)

Approximately half of solo agers have an advance directive — and only 44% have shared it with their primary care doctor, according to AARP.

Part of creating an advance directive is designating a durable power of attorney (DPA), who can speak for the person in periods of illness or incapacitation.

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Experts recommend choosing someone trustworthy who is a generation younger  — mature enough to handle a serious end-of-life issue but young enough where they are not yet experiencing the same aging issues.

Cultivating social connections

Those who place a high value on friendships often have better health and happiness, past research shows.

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Older adults who don’t cultivate friendships may be less likely to receive help from friends, which exposes them to more negative emotions triggered by changes in their lives, according to a previous study.

An organic way to foster social connections is to move to a neighborhood with an existing support structure, experts recommend.

An expert encourages solo agers to engage in local activities at senior centers, community organizations and churches as a means of staying active and socially connected. (iStock)

One example is Village to Village Network, a national organization that provides resources and support to help older adults age in their communities. 

Members become part of a local “village” that offers support services and opportunities to make social connections.

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“These services range from social and educational programs to health and wellness activities, as well as practical support like transportation, home maintenance and technology coaching,” Barbara Sullivan, national director of the Village to Village Network in New Jersey, told Fox News Digital.

“By providing a variety of resources and services, they help foster a sense of belonging and independence.”

Technology can help solo agers foster connections with others. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Technology can also help enable these connections, according to Wu, the NYU gerontologist.

“Video calls and social media platforms enable older adults to stay connected with family and friends, regardless of distance,” she told Fox News Digital.

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Wu encourages solo agers to engage in local activities at senior centers, community organizations and churches as a means of staying active and socially connected.

New hope could be on the horizon for ALS patients in the form of a “breakthrough” drug, researchers say.

Neuvivo, a California biopharmaceutical company that develops therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, is seeking approval for a new medication for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that gradually impairs muscle function, eventually robbing the patient of the ability to walk, talk, eat and even breathe, per the ALS Association.

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This month, Neuvivo submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for NP001 (sodium chlorite infusion).

The drug has been granted orphan drug and fast track designations by the FDA and is eligible for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, which could shorten the time to a potential approval, according to a press release.

“If approved, NP001 would be the first immunotherapy for ALS, and the first ALS treatment shown to preserve lung function,” Matthew W. Davis, MD, chief medical officer of Neuvivo, told Fox News Digital.

An urgent need

There are currently no FDA-approved treatments for ALS that preserve breathing function or extend life by more than two or three months, the company noted.

The leading cause of death in patients with ALS is loss of lung function (respiratory failure).

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Approximately 30,000 adults in the U.S. are currently living with ALS, and one in 300 people will be diagnosed in their lifetime.

The average life expectancy after a patient is diagnosed with ALS is 18 months.

While existing drugs combat ALS through the nervous system, NP001 would be the first therapy that works by controlling inflammation in the immune system. (iStock)

“Half of the people living with ALS today will unfortunately not likely be living in three years,” Davis said.

Dr. Earnest Lee Murray, a board-certified neurologist at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital in Jackson, Tennessee, confirmed that current ALS treatments are “very limited” in their effectiveness. 

A different kind of drug

While existing drugs combat ALS through the nervous system, NP001 — if approved — would be the first therapy that works by controlling inflammation in the immune system.

“NP001 would be indicated for all patients with ALS, although our data supports that patients with inflammation are likely to have significantly greater benefit,” Davis said.

“Half of the people living with ALS today will unfortunately not likely be living in three years.”

Murray, who is not affiliated with Neuvivo, noted that excessive inflammation has been a known factor in the progression of muscle weakness in ALS. 

While initial studies of NP001 did not show any “statistically significant” improvement, the neurologist said, “reanalysis of the previous data looked at certain subgroups of patients with particularly high inflammatory markers.”

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that gradually impairs muscle function, eventually robbing the patient of the ability to walk, talk, eat and even breathe, per the ALS Association. (iStock)

“This data suggests that NP001 can slow progressive loss of muscle function, especially when it comes to a patient’s ability to breathe, by targeting a specific immune system cell called a macrophage,” Murray told Fox News Digital.

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“Halting the activation of macrophages oftentimes can have an effect on other immune cells, which will hopefully alter the progression of ALS.”

During the first month of treatment, NP001 is given as a 30-minute infusion each day for five consecutive days. (iStock)

During the first month of treatment, NP001 is given as a 30-minute infusion each day for five consecutive days, according to Davis.

Every month thereafter, the medication is given for three consecutive days in the same way.

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NP001 was “generally well-tolerated” in clinical trials, Davis said.

The most commonly reported side effect was pain, redness and swelling where the drug was infused, which were “generally transitory and mild.”

“This data suggests that NP001 can slow progressive loss of muscle function.”

Murray echoed that early studies have demonstrated that NP001 is safe and well-tolerated. 

“I am cautiously optimistic that as NP001 moves though the FDA process of clinical trials, it will show true improvement in ALS patients and offer some hope to patients and families dealing with this devastating disease,” he said.

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As the drug undergoes FDA review, Neuvivo will continue to post updates for patients and caregivers on its website, according to Davis.

As Hurricane Milton made landfall and swept across Florida, one of the state’s major hospital systems welcomed 67 babies into the world.

AdventHealth for Women, which offers women’s health care services at locations across Central Florida, staffed hundreds of team members, including nurses, physicians and specialists, during the height of the hurricane.

The staff worked through the night to care for delivering parents and their little ones, according to the hospital.

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There were 32 babies born at AdventHealth’s Tampa area hospitals, 11 born at AdventHealth Orlando, 14 at AdventHealth Celebration, two at AdventHealth Winter Park, one at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, four at AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares, one at AdventHealth Daytona Beach and two at AdventHealth Fish Memorial in Orange City, a press release stated.

“I’m so grateful for the delivering parents who entrusted us to take care of them and their families during the hurricane, and to all the team members who worked through the night to ensure our community was cared for,” Kristen Toth, vice president of AdventHealth for Women, told Fox News Digital via email.

“To be able to serve as a source of support and calm and witness 67 children come into the world during such a frightening time — it’s a testament to the strength of the human spirit.”

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Below are some of the babies who were brought into the world during Hurricane Milton. 

1. Bernardo Salazar Tipacti

Bernardo Salazar Tipacti was born at 1:35 p.m. on Oct. 9 at AdventHealth Celebration. 

He was born to Luciana Tipacti Almora and Fredy Raul Salazar Warren and weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce. 

Bernardo Salazar Tipacti was born at 1:35 p.m. on Oct. 9 at AdventHealth to Luciana Tipacti Almora and Fredy Raul Salazar Warren. (AdventHealth for Women)

2. Luna MarÍa Jiménez

Luna MarÍa Jiménez was born at 11:23 p.m. on Oct. 9 at AdventHealth Altamonte Springs. She weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

Proud parents are Elizabeth López and David Jiménez. 

Luna MarÍa Jiménez was born to Elizabeth López and David Jiménez and weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces.  (AdventHealth for Women)

3. Camila Victoria 

Yessica Paola and Jhon Porras welcomed Camila Victoria (last name not shared) at 12:44 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Orlando. 

She weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces.

Camila Victoria was born at 12:44 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Orlando to Yessica Paola and Jhon Porras. (AdventHealth for Women)

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4. Dana Iveth Arias Garcia

Born to Kimberly Garcia and Denilson Arias, Dana Iveth Arias Garcia weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce. 

She was born at 1:05 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Orlando.

Dana Iveth Arias Garcia was born at 1:05 a.m. on Oct. 10 to Kimberly Garcia and Denilson Arias. (AdventHealth for Women)

5. Jacob 

Jacob (last name not shared) was born at 3 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Orlando and weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces. 

Proud parents are Ana Maria Franco and Felipe Salamanca from Davenport.  

Jacob was born at 3 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Orlando. He was born to Ana Maria Franco and Felipe Salamanca from Davenport and weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces.   (AdventHealth for Women)

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Charlotte Furnas was born at 11:04 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares. She was born to Madeline and Grant Furnas and weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces.   (AdventHealth for Women)

6. Charlotte Furnas 

Madeline and Grant Furnas welcomed baby Charlotte at 11:04 a.m. on Oct. 10 at AdventHealth Waterman in Tavares. She weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces. 

The impending presidential election could lead to a lot of unwanted – and sometimes unhealthy – snacking.

Emotional eating can be a byproduct of stressful periods, including political events, sports games and other happenings, according to various studies.

Recent research published in the journal Nutrients stated that emotional eating is considered a “critical risk factor for recurrent weight gain.”

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The findings suggest a link between emotional eating and health factors like obesity, depression, anxiety and stress.

Identifying healthier coping mechanisms for negative emotions can help prevent dangerous outcomes, the researchers concluded.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Los Angeles-based registered dietitian nutritionist Ilana Muhlstein said she often sees an uptick in emotional eating among her clients during stressful times.

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Muhlstein, who has worked with private clients through three presidential election cycles, said there’s “always a spike in activity” before and after the election.

“People are watching the debates and watching the commentary on the couch, quickly eating their bag of chips or cookies, and it’s really destructive behavior,” she said.

A registered dietitian nutritionist confirmed that she sees an uptick in emotional eating among her clients during stressful times. (iStock)

Even during “nail-biting sports games,” people feel more inclined to mindlessly snack to “feel in control of the situation,” Muhlstein said.

“When we have these periods of unrest where it’s a situation of not knowing … that sense of limbo that can feel uneasy, people tend to confuse it with hunger,” she noted.

Emotional eating and weight loss

As a nutritionist, Muhlstein said emotional eating is one of the biggest barriers she’s encountered with her clients who are struggling with their weight.

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“Until we get a hold of the emotional eating, it’s really hard to lose the weight and even harder to keep it off,” she said.

Emotional eating is more prevalent in American culture than it is in other countries, according to Muhlstein, as many food companies have “pushed onto us … that food is going to be the thing that makes us feel better.”

Food companies pushing unhealthy eating is “doing us a massive disservice,” a registered dietitian nutritionist noted. (iStock)

Indulging in not-so-healthy treats and sweets during happy occasions, like birthdays and other celebrations, doesn’t have the same negative long-term impact as eating to get through a negative situation.

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“We want to have treats like cake or cookies to elevate a positive experience,” she said. 

“If you have a slice [of cake] along with an overall healthy meal, you can still lose weight that week – you can still feel good in your body.”

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“If you got laid off, or got divorced, or are fighting with a best friend, or are watching the news and feeling stressed out, and you’re sitting there eating cake in a very rushed, unhappy way – in order to give you this short-term emotional relief and a hit of dopamine – I find that is what triggers a long-term, unhealthy relationship with food,” Muhlstein added.

Potential for addiction

Emotional eaters tend to eat foods that are higher in sugar and other fattening ingredients, Muhlstein said, which can have addictive properties.

The part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens will “fire up” and release dopamine when consuming processed foods that contain a balance of sugar, salt, fat and other artificial flavorings, the expert cautioned.

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“We see in loads of research that there is a connection between eating ultra-processed foods and these feel-good chemicals in our body,” she said.

“When we’re eating things like cookies that have no fiber … or we’re having lots of candy that’s just sugar, syrups, flavorings and dyes, it never really fills us up and never satisfies us.”

Sweets should “elevate a positive experience” to prevent unhealthy habits and emotional eating, the expert advised. (iStock)

Guilt can worsen emotional eating, Muhlstein added, as many people “beat themselves up” after eating unhealthy foods.

Studies have shown that people who feel guilty when they overeat have higher instances of emotional eating and are more likely to continue eating poorly.

How to curb emotional eating

Muhlstein encouraged people to “lose the shame or guilt” and try to have a positive outlook in regard to eating habits.

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“If you’re constantly telling yourself, ‘I’m a stress eater, I’m a stress eater, I’m a stress eater,’ then the next time you get stressed, you will likely go to food,” she told Fox News Digital.

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“If you tell yourself, ‘I’m so stressed, I really need a walk,’ or ‘When I’m stressed, I like to journal or do mindful practices like meditation or yoga,’ then you will slowly start to engage in those healthier stress management techniques.”

A simple way to prevent emotional eating is to keep high-sugar, high-fat, ultraprocessed foods out of the home.

A simple way to prevent emotional eating is to remove trigger foods from your home, experts recommend. (iStock)

“You want to set your environment up for success,” Muhlstein advised. “That way, when you are stressed, you don’t have those quick-fix foods that trigger you.”

Muhlstein also recommended utilizing healthier coping mechanisms in high-stress situations, like exercising, deep breathing and drinking plenty of water.