Abstract:

The extension of life expectancy has made possible the life cycle transitions recently associated with middle & later years. Because more & more Americans now live to middle age, old age, & even advanced old age, these stages of life have been democratized, or made accessible to a broad cross-section of the population, rather than to only a select few. In conjunction with more generational independence of living arrangements, longer lifetimes have given rise to the empty nest followed by a postmarital period of solitary living. Changes in labor force participation patterns have meant that most older persons today experience the relatively new life stage of retirement.