U.S. Elder Care Is in a Fragile State
With baby boomers approaching retirement age, the financial difficulties of U.S. nursing homes and their inability to find enough working-age women to fill staff vacancies are especially troubling. But the problem is bigger than demographics. (Population Today, January 2002)

Elderly Americans (PDF: 340KB)

 The United States is in the midst of a profound demographic change: the rapid aging of its population. The 2000 Census counted nearly 35 million people in the United States 65 years of age or older, about one of every eight Americans. By 2030, demographers estimate that one in five Americans will be age 65 or older. The effects of this older age profile will reverberate throughout the American economy and society in the next 50 years. Preparing for these changes requires an understanding of the growing diversity within the older population. (BUL56.4, December 2001)

Rapidly Aging U.S. Society Faces Complex Issues
The aging of unprecedented numbers of Americans will have profound implications over the next several decades, and preparing for these changes will require an understanding of the changing characteristics of older Americans. (December 2001)

Americans Living Longer, Not Necessarily Healthier, Lives
Are older people healthier today than they were a generation ago? The answer depends on which indicator of health is used to measure change. (Population Today, February/March 2001)

Where Are Older Americans Living?
In 2000, the proportion of the population estimated to be ages 65 and older varies among states. The percentages range from just under 6 percent in Alaska to over 18 percent in Florida. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Labor Force Participation of Americans Ages 55 and Over
Through most of the 20th century, U.S. labor force participation rates have declined for men at older ages. The trend in labor force participation for older women has been one of steady increase. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Health Insurance Coverage Among Older Americans
Nearly all older Americans (99 percent in 1998) are covered by health insurance. Despite nearly universal insurance coverage, households headed by older people still have substantial out-of-pocket expenses for health care. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Older Women: Living Longer, Living Alone
Three-quarters of older American men live in a family setting, while only half of older American women do. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Sources of Income for Older Americans
In 1998, Social Security benefits provided the primary source of money income for the older population in the United States. The mean income received from the Social Security program in 1998 was $8,869. (AmeriStat, November 2000)

Baby-Boomer Retirees Changing the U.S. Landscape
Americans ages 65 and older are far less likely to move than their working-age counterparts. Still, those who do move tend to converge on a small number of "retirement magnets." (AmeriStat, October 2000)