'Solo agers' are a growing group. Changes that would help them could help everyone
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MILNE-TYTE: Smigielski, a software engineer, says he's not an obvious candidate for a network like this. He enjoys his own company and doesn't expect to need help changing light bulbs for decades.

SMIGIELSKI: But the social support, regardless of how able we are, that's intrinsic to us, and I went through my battles of thinking I was an exception to that rule. I could be the human who didn't need social connection 'cause I don't need a lot of it. But I need it.

MILNE-TYTE: Right now, his 87-year-old mother still drives him to hospital appointments and can sign him out if she needs to. But eventually, he expects to tap the network he's helping create to sustain him as he gets older. For NPR News, I'm Ashley Milne-Tyte.

(SOUNDBITE OF IMOGEN HEAP SONG, "THE WALK")

© NPR

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