Boomers Living on Social Security Are Fighting Retirement Loneliness

During the Colder Months, Barbara O’Keffe, 79, Her Husband, and Their Friends Journey into the rocky deserts of Arizona. With the intense sun shining on their sunscreen-covered faces, they take walks and admire the vastness.

When May Hits and the Blistering Heat Traps I say inside, o’Keeffe occsionally were up early, Tries a new breakfast spot, and bookmarks for wen her snowbird Friends return in the winter.

Their Finance are stable, but the o’Keeffes have tried to kep costs down while MainTaining a healthy social life, though they will splurge on concerts.

But Because of Rising Costs, They Slowed Their Search for New Restaurants and Embraced Being Homebodies During The Summer, Taching Up Projects Like Sewing and Going Through Old Photographs. Their Over-55 Community often Holds Events in the Eveings, and They’ve Maintained Online Connections with Friends from their Travels and Work. Still, Balance Social Activities on a Budget isn’t Easy.

“One of the Hardest Things at Our Age is that we are Starting to Lose Close Friends of 30 to 40 Years, and Each time it happens, it reinforces Our Mortality,” Said O’Keeffe, Who Retired Over 18 Years Ago from Role As a University Department Head.

O’Keeffe is one of the dosens of retirees who recently told business insider they’re trying to stay socially connected despite limited retirement savings. Some Said Its Difficult to Make Friends Later in Life, Especilly With Workplace Connections to Fall Back on. Others Said Spanding on Food, Housing, and Other Essentials Has Already Strained Their Monthly Budgets, Making It Harder to Prioritizes Relationships and Fend off Loneliness. Many Older Americans, Particularly Those With Lower Incomes, Have Been Caught in the Nation’s Broader “Loneliness Crisis.

What’s More, Fears About the Future of Government Benefits Like Social Security and Medicaid Cecause of Federal Staffing and Budget Cuts, Along with the Stock Markets and Downs, have Added to the Financial Stress. This is Story is part of a series on Older workers.

SOME RETREES ARE GOING TO WORK TO SEEK CONNECTIONS

For some retirees, going back to work has been the most practical way to address their financial and social challenges.

Carolyn Evans, 71, workhed at a Big Four Accounting Firm for Two Decades before retiring in 2021 to care for terminally Ill Husband. Despite Havinging A Pension and 401 (K), She didn’t have Enough Saved to retire comfortable – she lost much of her $ 400,000 in savings during the 2008 recession and paid bills to repair her house a natural disaster. When Husband died in 2022, she felt isolated and returned to work.

“I WANTED TO BE AROUNDE PEOPLE CECAUSE OF THE LONELINESS THAT I ENCOUNTERED AFTER MY HUSBAND PASSED AWAY,” EVANS SAID.

Evans, Who Lives in Texas, Said She Couldn’t Find Many Part-Time Openings, SO Becr-Time Accountant for A Real Estate Company. She’s Enjoyed Working With Younger People, Property Managers, and Clients. Evans isn’t sura when she sha might be able to retire again, though she’s hopoful work will kept her fulfilled and finaniLy stable for the time being.

“I Enjoy Work Becuses is Very Community-Connected with Various Social Activities Such As Bowling and Pickleball,” Evans Said. “My Children of ENTERTAIN WITH BARBECES AND OTHER FAMILY GATHERings, there are Areings Curch Gatherings, and Activities where it is offten potluck and less Expensive.”

Finding Low-Cost Activities and Returning to Work Haven’t Fully Solved the Social Challenges Mary Retires, Like Libby Mintzer, Face.

Mintzer, 73, retired from her jab as a parallegal in 2022. She relies on her monthly social security income, whic she says is barely enough to get by. AS A Result, Mintzer Said She’s Been Actively Searching for Part-Time Employment – Preference An Office Job – But hasn’t Had any Luck Yet.

The Financial Strain Has ALSO MADE IT HARDER FOR HER TO BUILD NEW FRIENDSHIPS SHEKE SHE RELOCATED FROM NEW YORK TO TAMPA, FOORIDA, ABOUT THREE YEARS AGO. She’s tried jaining local Meetup Groups – some of which involved going out to dinner – but Said they haven’t been a good fit.

“I ended up broke every month because i’d spend $ 60 on dinner, and i didn’t click with anybody,” she said.

Be a social opportunity catches and interest – an an expensive one – it can be hard to pass on it. If she is overspepers, she said she typically cuts back on food.

“To me, it’s Worth spending Money or tan going over my budget once in a while,” She Said.