The first of the baby boomers will celebrate their 60th birthdays this year, and a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau provides even more insight into this large and highly influential group of people.
Prepared for the National Institute on Aging (NIA), this report highlights “dramatic” and “rapid” changes in the U.S. population that will take place over the coming years. As the Director of the NIA’s Behavioral and Social Research Program, Richard M. Suzman, Ph.D., noted, “Many people have an image of aging that may be 20 years out of date.”
As you’re probably already well aware, the population aged 65 and over will double in the next 25 years, so that by the year 2030, almost one out of every five Americans will be 65 years old or older (72 million people).
The report, titled “65+ in the United States: 2005”, gathered information about the health and socioeconomic aspects of this age group. Here are some of the defining characteristics of the over age 65 population that you can expect to see.
Improved Overall Health
Although the overall health of the 65+ population is improving — the percentage of people suffering from disabilities fell from 26.2% in 1982 to 19.7% in 1999 — 14 million people aged 65 and older still reported some level of disability in the 2000 census.
Increased Financial Status
The proportion of people aged 65 and older who were in poverty decreased from 35% in 1959 to 10% in 2003, a change mostly attributed to Social Security.
Higher Levels of Education
The proportion of Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree grew five-fold from 1950 to 2003 (3.4% to 17.4% respectively). By the year 2030, more than one-fourth of the older population will be expected to have earned an undergraduate degree. In addition, more people have completed a high school education since 1950, as well. This percentage jumped from 17% in 1950 to 71.5% in 2003.
More Diversity
In 2003, older Americans were 83% non-Hispanic Caucasian, 8% African-American, 6% Hispanic and 3% Asian. By 2030, an estimated 72% of older Americans will be non-Hispanic Caucasian, 11% Hispanic, 10% African-American and 5% Asian.
What are the Three “Oldest” States?
In addition, the report noted the states having the highest concentrations of people aged 65 and older. They included Florida (17.6%), Pennsylvania (15.6%), and West Virginia (15.3%).
Larisa Hubbs
Executive Editor
lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
The first of the baby boomers will celebrate their 60th birthdays this year, and a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau provides even more insight into this large and highly influential group of people.
Prepared for the National Institute on Aging (NIA), this report highlights “dramatic” and “rapid” changes in the U.S. population that will take place over the coming years. As the Director of the NIA’s Behavioral and Social Research Program, Richard M. Suzman, Ph.D., noted, “Many people have an image of aging that may be 20 years out of date.”
As you’re probably already well aware, the population aged 65 and over will double in the next 25 years, so that by the year 2030, almost one out of every five Americans will be 65 years old or older (72 million people).
The report, titled “65+ in the United States: 2005”, gathered information about the health and socioeconomic aspects of this age group. Here are some of the defining characteristics of the over age 65 population that you can expect to see.
Improved Overall Health
Although the overall health of the 65+ population is improving — the percentage of people suffering from disabilities fell from 26.2% in 1982 to 19.7% in 1999 — 14 million people aged 65 and older still reported some level of disability in the 2000 census.
Increased Financial Status
The proportion of people aged 65 and older who were in poverty decreased from 35% in 1959 to 10% in 2003, a change mostly attributed to Social Security.
Higher Levels of Education
The proportion of Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree grew five-fold from 1950 to 2003 (3.4% to 17.4% respectively). By the year 2030, more than one-fourth of the older population will be expected to have earned an undergraduate degree. In addition, more people have completed a high school education since 1950, as well. This percentage jumped from 17% in 1950 to 71.5% in 2003.
More Diversity
In 2003, older Americans were 83% non-Hispanic Caucasian, 8% African-American, 6% Hispanic and 3% Asian. By 2030, an estimated 72% of older Americans will be non-Hispanic Caucasian, 11% Hispanic, 10% African-American and 5% Asian.
What are the Three “Oldest” States?
In addition, the report noted the states having the highest concentrations of people aged 65 and older. They included Florida (17.6%), Pennsylvania (15.6%), and West Virginia (15.3%).
Larisa Hubbs
Executive Editor
lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
The first of the baby boomers will celebrate their 60th birthdays this year, and a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau provides even more insight into this large and highly influential group of people.
Prepared for the National Institute on Aging (NIA), this report highlights “dramatic” and “rapid” changes in the U.S. population that will take place over the coming years. As the Director of the NIA’s Behavioral and Social Research Program, Richard M. Suzman, Ph.D., noted, “Many people have an image of aging that may be 20 years out of date.”
As you’re probably already well aware, the population aged 65 and over will double in the next 25 years, so that by the year 2030, almost one out of every five Americans will be 65 years old or older (72 million people).
The report, titled “65+ in the United States: 2005”, gathered information about the health and socioeconomic aspects of this age group. Here are some of the defining characteristics of the over age 65 population that you can expect to see.
Improved Overall Health
Although the overall health of the 65+ population is improving — the percentage of people suffering from disabilities fell from 26.2% in 1982 to 19.7% in 1999 — 14 million people aged 65 and older still reported some level of disability in the 2000 census.
Increased Financial Status
The proportion of people aged 65 and older who were in poverty decreased from 35% in 1959 to 10% in 2003, a change mostly attributed to Social Security.
Higher Levels of Education
The proportion of Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree grew five-fold from 1950 to 2003 (3.4% to 17.4% respectively). By the year 2030, more than one-fourth of the older population will be expected to have earned an undergraduate degree. In addition, more people have completed a high school education since 1950, as well. This percentage jumped from 17% in 1950 to 71.5% in 2003.
More Diversity
In 2003, older Americans were 83% non-Hispanic Caucasian, 8% African-American, 6% Hispanic and 3% Asian. By 2030, an estimated 72% of older Americans will be non-Hispanic Caucasian, 11% Hispanic, 10% African-American and 5% Asian.
What are the Three “Oldest” States?
In addition, the report noted the states having the highest concentrations of people aged 65 and older. They included Florida (17.6%), Pennsylvania (15.6%), and West Virginia (15.3%).
Larisa Hubbs
Executive Editor
lhubbs@hmpcommunications.com
