In The News

Caregiving Trends and Facts

Care Management Related Articles

What Is A Geriatric Care Manager?

A Helping Hand at Smart Money

A Geriatric Care Manager at Business Week

 

Articles Quoting Our Experts

Coming of Age at Dallas News

Residential Care Homes at Dallas News

A Grandma-Friendly House at Dallas News

Aging Trends

In 2003, nearly 36 million people age 65 and older lived in the United States, accounting for just over 12 percent of the total population. Over the 20th century, the older population grew from 3 million to 35 million. The oldest-old population (those age 85 and over) grew from just over 100,000 in 1900 to 4.2 million in 2000.

The Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) will start turning 65 in 2011, and the number of older people will increase dramatically during the 2010-2030 period. The older population in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as their counterparts in 2000, growing from 35 million to 71.5 million and representing nearly 20 percent of the total U.S. population.

In 2003, non-Hispanic whites accounted for nearly 83 percent of the U.S. older population. Blacks made up just over 8 percent, Asians made up nearly 3 percent, and Hispanics (of any race) accounted for nearly 6 percent of the older population. Projections indicate that by 2050 the composition of the older population will be 61 percent non-Hispanic white, 18 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Black, and 8 percent Asian.

In 2003, non-Hispanic whites accounted for nearly 83 percent of the U.S. older population. Blacks made up just over 8 percent, Asians made up nearly 3 percent, and Hispanics (of any race) accounted for nearly 6 percent of the older population. Projections indicate that by 2050 the composition of the older population will be 61 percent non-Hispanic white, 18 percent Hispanic, 12 percent Black, and 8 percent Asian.

In 2003, older men were much more likely than older women to be married. Over three-quarters (78 percent) of men age 65-74 were married, compared with over one-half (56 percent) of women in the same group. The proportion married is lower at older ages: 36 percent of women age 75-84 and 14 percent of women age 85 and over were married. For men, the proportion married also is lower at older ages, but not as low as for older women. Even among the oldest old, the majority of men were married (59 percent).
Source: Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related Statistics. Older Americans 2004.

Caregiving Facts

 Corporate America loses $17 billion per year to elder care problems. ("Why Companies Should Care," Working Woman, June 1995).

Seven to 12 percent of workers report having some responsibility for an older relative now, but by 2020 an estimated one in three will have elder care responsibilities. ("Why Companies Should Care," Working Woman, June 1995).

While many older persons are able to rely on a spouse for assistance, those who live alone often must rely on their children. More than 57 percent of elderly persons who live alone have a child who lives nearby. But more than one in four older persons who live alone do not have any living children. (AARP's Public Policy Institute's "Elderly People Who Live Alone" Fact Sheet).

Family members work an average of 71 hours per week at their caregiving duties. (Helping Yourself Help Others, by Rosalynn Carter, Times Books, 1994).

Fifty percent of caregivers report burnout, yet only 16 percent seek help from support agencies. (Helping Yourself Help Others, by Rosalynn Carter, Times Books, 1994).

 Information provided through:
National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers
1604 N. Country Club Road
Tucson, AZ 85716-3102
(520) 881-8008    (520) 325-7925 Fax
www.caremanager.org