Why so few older Americans get counseling – and how it could help

Counseling in later life isn’t just for coping with loss and illness – it can help people work through questions of identity and how they seek meaning in their lives.

By: Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, University of North Dakota, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 14, 2026

Words: 1,218

Last Updated: 1 month ago

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By Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, University of North Dakota

People are living longer, reshaping what it means to grow old.

By the late 2060s, an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide will be age 60 or older – more than the number of people under 18. The population age 80 and older is expected to grow even faster, more than tripling between 2023 and 2060 to about 545 million.

Living longer means spending more …

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