1 definition by Word Spy

elderorphan

An elderly person who has no family or whose family can't or won't care for them.

elderorphan: There are about 10 million seniors in the U.S. who live alone. Fortunately, most of those still have family members to care for them, but about 15 percent of seniors who need care have no family support. Even if that percentage remains constant, the sheer number of elder orphans will grow thanks to the massive bulge of the baby boom which will begin reaching age 65 in 2011.

by Word Spy May 19, 2008