More than one in four (26%) households are now occupied by one person, which is up from 24% in 2016 and 18% in 1981, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
Of people living alone 55% were women and 45% were men. Half of women living alone were aged 65 years or older, compared to one-third (32%) of men living alone.
When Aileen Thomson’s husband died from myeloid leukemia, she moved into Southern Cross Care (SA, NT & VIC)’s The Waterford retirement village in Myrtle Bank, 6km from Adelaide.
“My girls (she has three daughters) say I’m busier than ever,” said Aileen, who has been at The Waterford for eight years.
She attends weekly exercise classes, plays Mahjong, bridge and bingo and is one of 14 women who meet weekly to knit and have a cuppa and catch up.
It is not plain sailing entering a retirement village. Where could Aileen put her dining table for 14 in her villa?
Her home has all the mod cons, natural lights and it is a short stroll, or buggy ride, to many of the facilities in the Lourdes Valley Precinct, such as the Health & Wellness Centre for classes, the restaurant and coffee for catch ups.
“I left the car behind in December last year but if I need to go to Mitcham, I can get a ride,” she said.