What attendees said about the November 2025 event:

General Reflections & Appreciation

• Thank you, [panelist]. I appreciate your candor and enthusiasm for our common circumstances and stage in life!!

• Thank you for your candor, Ailene! What you are creating is truly wonderful. Thank you for sharing your gifts and heart.

• Thanks everyone! Great conversation. Very informative and interesting! Love the concept of table talks.

• Congrats panelists, each of you added so much!!

• Thank you everyone!! This was a great opportunity to come together.

• Wishing everyone finds their place, their people — and their power! Thank you, Ailene!

Quotes, Phrases & Insights Attendees Loved

• That is IT! It is not THE plan for everyone, it's a backup plan!

• I like that phrase – “time affluence!”

• Yes, we are experienced at living alone and doing everything on our own – so great phrase “fierce independent” out of necessity.

Reflections on Solo Aging Experience

• Yes, this is very affirming for me. I have felt so alone in all of this

• Accepting help often facilitates our being able to remain independent and provides others an opportunity to do something for us when they may not be able to fix our issues.

• Things change constantly, we have to keep re-strategizing our support plans. Best way to do that is to keep your social net growing.

• One thing I heard recently was to make friends not in your own age group. I'm learning to make friends who are younger than me as a result

• A friend of mine takes advantage of free college courses for seniors

• Hire a health care advocate if you can

Stories, Community & Shared Resources

• I have a group of girlfriends who are also childless and unpartnered. We check on each other and consider ourselves a family of choice.

• We have a timebanking org in Maryland where people can volunteer and the time spent is banked that they can utilize once turning 60… partnersincare.org timebanks.org

• Thanks for meetup idea while traveling

• [Panelist], you are so resourceful. 72 calm hours to “sit in my ick” paid off in creative ways, good on you!

Ideas & Requests for Future Offerings

• It would be great to have a workshop that explores ways of asking for help.

What Was the Most Valuable Thing You Learned?

• That I am not alone, and other people have successfully navigated these uncharted waters.

• Just hearing about other experiences and what they've gone through as a solo ager very important to hear stories and sharing that, thank you to the panel.

• I'm not a unicorn anymore… or maybe I still am one, but I just met a bunch of others!

• That I have to make more of an effort to meet people, which isn't easy for me.

• That I'm not alone and there are resources

• It was helpful to hear the emotional trials and tribulations of other solo agers – makes you feel not as alone

• Just the reminder that there are a lot of us out there and that I need to get out there and meet some of you all and many others – fellow introvert here.

• Idea of always look for something to move my solo aging experience forward

• That this network exists. And the need to put the effort forth to make connections.

• Interdependence is underrated

• Open up my comfort zone.

• Made the journey of navigating solo more appealing, less daunting.

• That I'm not alone!

• Aging experiences that shake us is common to all.

• I learned that I am not dealing with solo issues alone.

What Surprised You About the Event?

• The candidness of people sharing and vulnerability

• How many people showed up!

• The comfort and candid nature of the panelists. Very refreshing!

• There are others dealing with the same issues!

• I am surprised that this is actually a “thing.” I have given thought to the legal, medical, and logistical concerns, but I haven’t really thought of being a part of a community.

• That we all have such similar issues with aging solo.

• I had more in common with more people in the event than I thought I would.

• The panelists were not specialists in geriatrics. Everyday people.

• Felt a sense of community

• The wide range of issues, concerns and resolutions that the panel shared.

• Your panelists were very honest, and had very different (but also similar) stories about solo aging.

• Large size of group. How relaxed Ailene and panelists seemed – nice vibe

• I was pleased that most people participating were solo agers… All of them had children that they were counting on for support so it ended up not being relevant to them.

• How much I am like others, i.e.— an introvert, don't like to ask for help, etc.

• The panelists weren't all experts. They were people like me, at different stages of this journey. That made me feel less alone and more confident that I can find connection and solutions.

• Loved how personal and open each panelists was and how willing they were to share their feelings.

• As solo agers, we have so many common concerns but often feel invisible to each other. This is a great forum for us to benefit from each other's experiences and wisdom.

• Panelists were honest and frank. Excellent meeting. Thanks

• Being aware that there are actually so many of us solo agers in the world