'Solo agers' are a growing group. Changes that would help them could help everyone
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"The social support, regardless of how able we are, that's intrinsic to us," he says. "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 – because I don't need a lot of it, but I need it."

For now, he still has his mom to drive him to medical procedures where he needs help getting home afterwards. But eventually he expects to tap the network he's helping create to sustain him as he gets older.

PIEN HUANG, HOST:

More Americans are entering old age without children, spouses or other close relatives to lean on. They're known as solo agers, and their numbers are expected to rise as younger generations get older. Advocates say the shift is also an opportunity to rethink how communities and support systems are designed. Ashley Milne-Tyte reports.

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