Older Americans: get the facts

Americans currently are living longer and aging better than previous generations. Seniors – those aged 65 and older – also are among the fastest growing group demographically, with 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 each day. 

According to the National Council on Aging, key facts about seniors include:

• This age group has grown 38% since 2010, compared to an increase of only 2% for the under-65 population.
• Maine, Florida, West Virginia, and Vermont have the highest percentage of seniors.
• There were 104,819 Americans age 100 and older in 2020—more than triple the number in 1980!
• Approximately 60% of seniors live with a spouse or partner, while roughly 27% live alone.
• Nearly 1 in 10 seniors live below the poverty level.
• About 40.4 million family caregivers provide unpaid care to a family or non-family member age 65+. 
• While 39% of family caregivers care for someone age 85 or older, 13% care for someone age 65 to 69.
• In 2021, 10.9% of all seniors were working or proactively seeking employment – over 10 million individuals total.
• The top chronic health condition among seniors is arthritis (47%), followed by:
  • Cancer, 26%;
  • Diabetes (21%);
  • COPD, emphysema or chronic bronchitis, 11%;
  • Coronary heart disease, 14%; and
  • Myocardial infarction, 9%.

At CHI Living Communities, we are working diligently to ensure older adults live the most vibrant lives they can, regardless of their age, health status or ZIP code. That’s why, starting in May – National Older Americans Month – we’ll be posting frequent articles on our website about living your best life, aging well, caring for the caregiver, health tips for seniors, and much more. 

Please check back often, or follow us on LinkedIn to see notifications about these ongoing blogs that you will find useful, whether you are a senior, or if you care for or about one.