Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:43:34 -0400
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-03/nioa-all032608.php
NIH/National Institute on Aging
Americans living longer, enjoying greater health and prosperity, but
important disparities remain
Average life expectancy continues to increase, and today's older
Americans enjoy better health and financial security than any previous
generation. However, rates of gain are inconsistent between the genders
and across age brackets, income levels and racial and ethnic groups.
Some critical disparities also exist between older Americans and older
people in other industrialized countries. These and other trends are
reported in Older Americans 2008: Key Indicators of Well-Being, a
unique, comprehensive look at aging in the United States from the
Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics.
Older Americans 2008, the fourth chartbook prepared by the Forum since
2000, provides an updated, accessible compendium of indicators, drawn
from the most reliable official statistics about the well-being of
Americans primarily age 65 and over. The indicators are categorized into
five broad areas-population, economics, health status, health risks and
behaviors and health care. The 160-page report contains data on 38 key
indicators-and a one-time special feature on health literacy.
The Forum-a consortium representing 15 agencies with responsibilities
for Federal data collection or aging programs-collects, interprets and
updates these data and makes them available to government agencies,
policymakers, the media and the public.
"This report comes at a critical time," according to Edward Sondik,
Ph.D., director, National Center for Health Statistics. "As the baby
boomers age and America's older population grows larger and more
diverse, community leaders, policymakers and researchers have an even
greater need for reliable data to understand where older Americans stand
today and what they may face tomorrow."
"The 'greatest generation' made enormous gains in health and financial
security, although the gains were not shared equally," says Richard
Suzman, Ph.D., director of the Behavioral and Social Research Program at
the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of
Health. "We'll be tracking their children, those just reaching their
60s, to see whether those gains can be sustained or even improved."
Suzman cautions that there could be problems, however. For example, he
notes that increased rates of obesity among today's middle-aged could
threaten the health of these adults as they age.
"The sheer size of the baby boom cohorts is certain to affect our
health, long-term care and pension systems," says Benjamin E. Sasse,
Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health
and Human Services. "As we look ahead, it is imperative that we collect
and analyze quality data to help policymakers plan for the future of
these programs so important to aging Americans."
Highlights from Older Americans 2008 include:
Population - The demographics of aging in the United States continue to
change dramatically, as the baby boomers accelerate growth in the
percentage and numbers of older people and other important parameters
change.
* In 2006, an estimated 37 million people in the United States-12
percent of the population-were 65 and older. Projections forecast that
by 2030, approximately 71.5 million people will be 65 and older,
representing nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population.
* In 1965, 24 percent of older adults had graduated from high
school, and 5 percent had bachelor's degrees. By 2007, 76 percent were
high school graduates, and 19 percent had at least a bachelor's degree.
Substantial educational differences exist among racial and ethnic
groups. Eighty-one percent of non-Hispanic whites age 65 and older had
finished high school in 2007, compared with 72, 58 and 42 percent,
respectively, of older Asians, blacks and Hispanics.
Economics - More older people enjoy increased prosperity than any
previous generation, with an increase in higher incomes and a decrease
in the proportion of older people with low incomes and in poverty.
However, major inequalities continue to exist for older blacks and for
people without high school diplomas, who report smaller economic gains
and fewer financial resources.
* Income generally rose between 1974 and 2006. The proportion of
older people with incomes below the poverty line went from 15 percent to
9 percent; those categorized with low income dropped from 35 percent to
26 percent; those with high incomes increased from 18 percent to 29
percent.
* Median net worth for households headed by whites age 65 and older
was six times that of older black households, although the gap has
slightly narrowed since 2003.
* More older people, especially women, continued to work past age
55.
Health Status - Americans' longevity continues to increase, although
life expectancy at age 65 in the United States is lower than that of
other industria
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