As home healthcare providers, we’re often asked if a senior can live alone at home. While each situation is different, seniors who are alone can have additional risks that affect their health and well-being.

In 2016, the Administration on Aging reported 29 percent, or 13.3 million older adults age 65 and over, lived alone at home. Many seniors living alone experienced loneliness, social isolation and declining health, requiring more care from other persons. Despite these outcomes, nearly 90 percent of older adults still preferred to maintain their independence for as long as possible.

Read more: When Seniors Choose Solo Living