Older Americans Month Underway to Recognize About 40
Million Senior Citizens
Administration on Aging promoting local events,
offers online games
May 2, 2011 - Older Americans Month, which began on
May 1, is an occasion to show appreciation and support for our seniors
as they continue to enrich and strengthen our communities, according to
the Administration on Aging, which sponsors the annual event.
A meeting with the National Council
of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May
1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute in
some way to older people across the country.
In 1980, President Jimmy
Carter's proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time
to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public
recognition.
This year's theme - Older Americans: Connecting
the Community - pays homage to the many ways in which older adults
bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities, and
highlights how technology is helping older Americans live longer,
healthier, and more engaged lives, according to AoA.
The AoA is sponsoring two activities in observance
of Older Americans Month 2011 that a news release describes as
exciting, a video challenge and a video game tournament.
We welcome and encourage the participation of
seniors and community members across the country, it says.
Facts of
About Americas Senior Citizens in 2011 by U.S. Census Bureau
39.6
million
The number of people 65 and older
in the United States on July 1, 2009. This age group accounted for 13
percent of the total population. Between 2008 and 2009, this age group
increased by 770,699 people.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2009-sa.html>
Projected 2011 midyear world
population 65 and older. Projections indicate the number will increase
to 1.55 billion by 2050. The percentage of the world's population 65 and
older would increase from about 8 percent to about 17 percent over the
period.
Source: International Data Base <http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/idb/groups.php>
35
The projected number of people 65
and older to every 100 people of traditional working ages (ages 20 to
64) in 2030, up from 22 in 2010. This time period coincides with the
time when baby boomers are moving into the 65 and older age category.
(The figures for 2010 are not census counts.)
Source: The Next Four Decades: The Older Population in the United
States: 2010 to 2050 <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/aging_population/cb10-72.html>
42%
The percentage of the 65 and older
population expected to be a minority - i.e., a group other than single
race, non-Hispanic white - in 2050, more than double the percentage in
2010 (20 percent). Likewise, among those 85 and older, 33 percent are
projected to be a minority in 2050, up from 15 percent in 2010. (The
figures for 2010 are not census counts.)
Source: The Next Four Decades: The Older Population in the United
States: 2010 to 2050 <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/aging_population/cb10-72.html>
Income and Wealth
$31,354
Median 2009 income of households
with householders 65 and older, up 5.8 percent, in real terms, from the
previous year. The corresponding median for all households was $49,777.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United
States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf>
8.9%
Poverty rate for people 65 and
older in 2009, down from 9.7 percent in 2008. There were 3.4 million
seniors in poverty in 2009, down from 3.7 million the previous year. The
corresponding rate for the population as a whole was 14.3 percent.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United
States: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p60-238.pdf>
Serving Our Nation
9.0
million
Estimated number of people 65 and
older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2009.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Jobs
6.5
million
Number of people 65 and older who
were in the labor force in 2009. Projections indicate that by 2018, the
number will reach 11.1 million.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as cited in the Statistical
Abstract of the United States: 2011 (Table 585) <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
Percentage of people 65 and older
in the labor force in 2009.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Education
77%
Proportion of people 65 and older
in 2009 who had completed high school or higher education.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
20%
Percentage of the population 65 and
older in 2009 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Percentage of people 65 and older
in households in 2009 who lived with relatives. Twenty-seven percent of
all people this age lived alone, while 5 percent lived in group quarters
and 2 percent in a household with nonrelatives.
Source: 2009 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov/>
Voting
70%
Percentage of citizens 65 and older
reporting casting a ballot in the 2008 presidential election. Along with
those 45 to 64, people 65 and older had the highest turnout rate of any
age group.
Source: Voting and Registration in the Election of November 2008 <http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/voting/cb09-110.html>
Number of people 65 and older
living in California on July 1, 2009, the highest total of any state.
Florida, with 3.2 million, and New York, with 2.6 million, were the
runners-up.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/popest/states/asrh/SC-EST2009-01.html>
Editors note:
The preceding data were collected from a variety of sources by the U.S.
Census Bureau and may be subject to sampling variability and other
sources of error.
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
May 2, 2011 - Older Americans Month, which began on
May 1, is an occasion to show appreciation and support for our seniors
as they continue to enrich and strengthen our communities, according to
the Administration on Aging, which sponsors the annual event.