For the fear that keeps you up at night

Who Takes Care of Me If I'm Aging Alone?

If you don't have a spouse or adult children nearby, the question "who handles this when I can't?" is not paranoia — it's a real planning gap. The good news: it's a gap you can close, piece by piece, starting today.

You don't need to solve everything this week. Read the steps below in order, and just do the first one. Momentum matters more than speed here.
1
Start with self-recognition

Confirm what you're actually facing

"Solo ager" is a specific, well-studied situation — not a vague worry. Naming it makes it solvable.

Read: What is a "solo ager," and is that you? →
2
The most urgent legal gap

Figure out who can make decisions for you

Without a spouse or child, medical and financial decision-making authority doesn't automatically go to anyone. This is fixable with two documents.

Read: Who makes medical decisions for you if you're solo? →
3
Build your people

Start assembling a care team, even an unconventional one

Care teams for solo agers are often built from friends, neighbors, and professionals rather than family — and that works.

Read: Building a care team with no children or spouse →
4
Plan for the worst-case scenario

Know what happens if something happens suddenly

A short emergency plan removes most of the fear around "what if I fall and no one knows."

Read: Emergency planning when you live alone as you age →
5
Put it all in one place

Use the Care Team Builder to organize what you just learned

Once you know who's on your team and what documents you need, this tool keeps it organized in one spot — and shareable with the people who need it.

Open the Care Team Builder →