U.S. Aging Statistics You'll Want to Know

Compiled by Staff Writers

Did You Know?

• Half of older women age 75+ live alone.
  
  
• About 31 percent (10.5 million) of non-institutionalized older persons live alone (7.9 million women, 2.6 million men).
  
  
• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.1 years (19.4 years for females and 16 years for males).
  
  
• The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.6 million in 2002 to 9.6 million in 2030.

(Source: www.aoa.gov)

U.S. Aging Demographics

The terms older population and elders are used interchangeably in this fact sheet to refer to the population aged 65 and older.

Aging of America Statistics

• The older (65+) population in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as in 2000, growing from 35 million to 72 million and representing nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population at the latter date.
  
  
• In 2000, the oldest-old population (those 85 and older) was 34 times as large as in 1900. The oldest-old population is projected to grow rapidly after 2030, when the Baby Boomers begin to move into this age group.
  
  
• The number of centenarians (those 100 and older) has increased in the past several years, from about 37,000 in 1990 to over 50,000 in 2000. About 80 percent of centenarians are women.
  
  
• The older population accounted for at least 20 percent of the total population in 331 of the 3,141 counties in 2000.

Finances of 65+ Population in the U.S.

• Households maintained by older people have net worth higher than that of all other households except for those maintained by householders in the pre-retirement ages of 55 to 64, which were similar.
  
  
• In 1959, 35 percent of people aged 65 and over lived below the poverty line. By 2003, the proportion had decreased to 10 percent.

(Source: 65+ In The United States, December, 2005 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Commerce)

Nursing Home Statistics

• About 1.45 million Americans of all ages lived in nursing homes in 2003. Nationally, the total number of nursing facility residents of any age declined 1 percent from 2001 to 2003, and 4 percent from 1998 to 2003.
  
  
• The number of nursing home beds dropped 3 percent and the occupancy rate declined by 1 percent between 1998 and 2003.
  
  
• Between 1985 and 1995, the proportion of older people who stayed overnight in nursing homes fell by 8 percent.

(Source: Across The States, Profiles of Long-Term Care, AARP Public Policy Institute, 2004)

The Burden of Caregiving

Caregiving burdens in the U.S. is an indicator of the potential stress resulting from the burden of caring for an aged parent, relative, or friend. In spite of increasing average levels of wealth and technological advances, persons aged 50+ frequently find themselves providing services and care to parents, other family members, other loved ones, and friends who have developed disabilities.

While this caregiving remains largely a role assumed by women, men are also increasingly involved in providing unpaid assistance. People were first asked if they provided care to a relative or friend aged 50 or older, and then whether that care caused a loss or burden in terms of pay or employment, savings, or time. Nearly half (46 percent) of the overall 50+ population reported giving care, but that differed slightly between the 50 to 64 (54 percent) and 65+ (38 percent) groups. Of those providing care, about one-fifth (22 percent) experienced substantial burdens from doing so (23 percent for the younger group, 19 percent for the older group). Thus, of the total 50+ population, about 10 percent experienced substantial caregiving burdens, with 50 to 64 year-olds more likely (13 percent) to experience such a burden than the 65+ group (7 percent).

It is important to note that such assistance is usually a caring act, but still can result in increased stress and worsened health for caregivers.

20 Percent with Substantial Caregiving Burdens (2003 figures)

• 50+: 10 percent
  
• 50 to 64: 13 percent
  
• 65+: 7 percent

The Widening Gap of Seniors and Their Family Caregivers

• Over 7 million adult children are primary caregivers to their parent(s).
  
  
• Among adults age 51 or older more than one in ten are providing assistance with basic everyday activities to their parent(s).
  
  
• The population age 65 or older is expected to increase 101 percent between 2000 and 2030 at a rate of 2.3 percent annually. The population most likely to provide care, spouses and adult children ages 45 to 64, is expected to increase only 25 percent between 2000 and 2030 at a rate of 0.8 percent annually.
  
  
• On average, adult children provide 421 hours of care annually to their elderly family members. About 267 hours are spent assisting parents with limitations in IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living) such as housework and transportation, and 169 hours are spent assisting parents with limitations in ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), such as feeding and bathing.
  
  
• 63 percent of adult children caregivers aged 51-64 are employed. Three-quarters of these family caregivers work full time — 40 or more hours per week.
  

(Source: The Likelihood of Providing Care for an Older Parent, The Center on An Aging Society, Georgetown University, 1999)

  Right at Home is a national organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those we serve. We fulfill that mission through a dedicated network of locally owned providers of in-home care and assistance services.