# A Profile

# of

# Older Americans: 2005 

![](media/image1.png){width="1.78125in" height="1.7638888888888888in"}

# Administration on Aging

# U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

# Table of Contents

**Highlights**....................................................................................................
1

**The Older
Population**.....................................................................................
2

**Future
Growth**.............................................................................................
3

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900 - 2030 (numbers in millions)

**Marital
Status**..............................................................................................
4

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+ - 2004

**Living
Arrangements**.....................................................................................
5

Figure 3:  Living Arrangements of Persons 65+: 2004

**Racial and Ethnic
Composition**..........................................................................
6

**Geographic
Distribution**..................................................................................
6

> Figure 4: Persons 65+ as Percentage of Total Population by State: 2004
> (US Map)
>
> Figure 5: Percentage Increase in Population 65+ by State: 1994 to 2004
> (US Map)
>
> Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State: 2004 (table)

**Income**
.....................................................................................................
10

Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 2004

**Poverty**
................................\.....................................................................
11

**Housing**
...................................................................................................
11

**Employment**
..............................................................................................
12

**Education**
.................................................................................................
12

**Health and Health Care**
.................................................................................
12

**Health Insurance Coverage**
...................................................... 13

Figure 8: Sources of Health Insurance Coverage: 2004

**Disability** **and Activity Limitations**
.................................................................... 14

Figure 9: Percent of Persons with Limitations in Activities of Daily
Living\
by Age Group: 2003

**Caregiving**
....................................................................................................
15

**Special Topic: Computer and Internet Access** 15

Figure 10: Computer and Internet Access: 2000 and 2003

**Notes**
.......................................................................................................
16

**Highlights \***

-   The older population (65+) numbered 36.3 million in 2004, an
    increase of 3.1 million or 9.3% since 1994.

-   The number of Americans aged 45-64 -- who will reach 65 over the
    next two decades -- increased by 39% during this decade.

-   About one in every eight, or 12.4 percent, of the population is an
    older American.

-   Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an
    additional 18.5 years (19.8 years for females and 16.8 years for
    males).

-   Older women outnumber older men at 21.1 million older women to 15.2
    million older men.

-   In 2004, 18.1% of persons 65+ were minorities\--8.2% were
    African-Americans.\*\* Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any
    race) represented 6.0% of the older population. About 2.9% of the
    elderly were Asian or Pacific Islander,\*\* and less than 1% were
    American Indian or Native Alaskan.\*\* In addition, 0.6% of persons
    65+ identified themselves as being of two or more races.\*\*

-   Older men were much more likely to be married than older women\--72%
    of men vs. 42% of women (Figure 2). Almost half of all older women
    in 2004 were widows (43%).

-   About 31 percent (10.7 million) of noninstitutionalized older
    persons live alone (7.9 million women, 2.8 million men).

-   Half of older women age 75+ live alone.

-   About 415,000 grandparents aged 65 or more had the primary
    responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them.

-   The population 65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to
    40 million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and then to 55 million in 2020
    (a 36% increase for that decade).

-   The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.2 million in 2000
    to 6.1 million in 2010 (a 40% increase) and then to 7.3 million in
    2020 (a 44% increase for that decade).

-   Members of minority groups are projected to increase from 5.7
    million in 2000 (16.4% of the elderly population) to 8.1 million in
    2010 (20.1% of the elderly) and then to 12.9 million in 2020 (23.6%
    of the elderly).

-   The median income of older persons in 2004 was \$21,102 for males
    and \$12,080 for females. Median money income of all households
    headed by older people (after adjusting for inflation) rose by 0.3%
    from 2003 to 2004. Family households headed by older people reported
    a median income in 2004 of \$35,825.

-   Major sources of income for older people were: Social Security
    (reported by 90 percent of older persons), income from assets
    (reported by 56 percent), private pensions (reported by 30 percent),
    government employee pensions (reported by 14 percent), and earnings
    (reported by 23 percent).

-   For one-third of Americans over 65, Social Security benefits
    constitute 90% of their income.

-   About 3.6 million elderly persons (9.8%) were below the poverty
    level in 2004 which was a statistically significant decrease from
    the rate of 10.2% in 2003.

-   About 11% (3.7 million) of older Medicare enrollees received
    personal care from a paid or unpaid source in 1999.

\*Principal sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. Bureau of the
Census, the National Center on Health Statistics, and the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The Profile incorporates the latest data available but
not all items are updated on an annual basis.

### The Older Population

The older population\--persons 65 years or older\--numbered 36.3 million
in 2004 (the most recent year for which data are available). They
represented 12.4% of the U.S. population, about one in every eight
Americans. The number of older Americans increased by 3.1 million or
9.3% since 1994, compared to an increase of 13.3% for the under-65
population. However, the number of Americans aged 45-64 -- who will
reach 65 over the next two decades -- increased by 39% during this
period.

In 2004, there were 21.1 million older women and 15.2 million older men,
or a sex ratio of 139 women for every 100 men. The female to male sex
ratio increases with age, ranging from 115 for the 65-69 age group to a
high of 222 for persons 85 and over.

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has tripled (from 4.1% in
1900 to 12.4% in 2004), and the number has increased almost twelve times
(from 3.1 million to 36.3 million). The older population itself is
getting older. In 2004, the 65-74 age group (18.5 million) was over
eight times larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 group (13.0 million) was
17 times larger and the 85+ group (4.9 million) was 39.8 times larger.

In 2003, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an
additional 18.5 years (19.8 years for females and 16.8 years for males).

A child born in 2003 could expect to live 77.6 years, about 30 years
longer than a child born in 1900. Much of this increase occurred because
of reduced death rates for children and young adults. However, the
period of 1980-2003 also has seen reduced death rates for the population
aged 65-84, especially for men -- by 32.5% for men aged 65-74 and by
24.8% for men aged 75-84. Life expectancy at age 65 increased by only
2.5 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased by 4.2 years from
1960 to 2003.

Over 2.0 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 2004. In the
same year, about 1.8 million persons 65 or older died. Census estimates
showed an annual net increase of over 375,000 in the number of persons
65 and over.

There were 64,658 persons aged 100 or more in 2004 (0.18% of the total
population). This is a 73% increase from the 1990 figure of 37,306.

***(Data for this section were compiled primarily from Internet releases
of the U.S. Bureau of the Census and the National Center for Health
Statistics).***

\- 2-

### Future Growth

The older population will continue to grow significantly in the future
([see Figure 1]{.underline}). This growth  slowed somewhat during the
1990\'s because of the relatively small number of babies born during the
Great Depression of the 1930\'s. But the older population will burgeon
between the years 2010 and 2030 when the \"baby boom\" generation
reaches age 65.

The population 65 and over will increase from 35 million in 2000 to 40
million in 2010 (a 15% increase) and then to 55 million in 2020 (a 36%
increase for that decade). By 2030, there will be about 71.5 million
older persons, almost twice their number in 2004. People 65+ represented
12.4% of the population in the year 2004 but are expected to grow to be
20% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is projected to
increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 6.1 million in 2010 (40%) and then
to 7.3 million in 2020 (44% for that decade).

Minority populations are projected to increase from 5.7 million in 2000
(16.4% of the elderly population) to 8.1 million in 2010 (20.1% of the
elderly) and then to 12.9 million in 2020 (23.6% of the elderly).
Between 2004 and 2030, the white\*\* population 65+ is projected to
increase by 74% compared with 183% for older minorities, including
Hispanics (254%), African-Americans\*\* (147%), American Indians,
Eskimos, and Aleuts\*\* (143%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders\*\*
(208%).

![](media/image2.wmf){width="5.104166666666667in"
height="3.9791666666666665in"}

***Note: Increments in years are uneven.***

***(Sources: Projections of the Population by Age are taken from the
January 2004 Census Internet Release. Historical data are taken from
\"65+ in the United States,\" Current Population Reports, Special
Studies, P23-190 Data for 2000 are from the 2000 Census and 2004 data
are taken from the Census estimates for 2004.)***

\- 3-

### Marital Status

In 2004, older men were much more likely to be married than older
women\--72% of men, 42% of women (Figure 2). Almost half of all older
women in 2004 were widows (43%). There were over four times as many
widows (8.2 million) as widowers (2.0 million).

Divorced and separated (including married/spouse absent) older persons
represented only 10.6% of all older persons in 2004. However, this
percentage has increased since 1980, when approximately 5.3% of the
older population were divorced or separated/spouse absent.

![](media/image3.wmf){width="4.447916666666667in"
height="2.7708333333333335in"}

***(Based on Internet releases of data from the 2004 Current Population
Survey of the U.S. Bureau of the Census)***

\- 4 -

### Living Arrangements

Over half (54.7%) the older noninstitutionalized persons lived with
their spouse in 2004. Approximately 10.7 million or 72.4% of older men,
and 8.2 million or 41.6% of older women, lived with their spouse
(Figure 3). The proportion living with their spouse decreased with age,
especially for women. Only 29.2% of women 75+ years old lived with a
spouse.

About 30.8% (10.7 million) of all noninstitutionalized older persons in
2004 lived alone (7.9 million women, 2.8 million men). They represented
39.7 of older women and 18.8% of older men. The proportion living alone
increases with advanced age. Among women aged 75 and over, for example,
half (49.9%) lived alone.

About 671,000 grandparents aged 65 or over maintained households in
which grandchildren were present in 2004. (Another 231,000 elderly were
spouses of such people.) In addition, 618,000 grandparents over 65 years
lived in parent- maintained households in which their grandchildren were
present. A total of about 1.53 million older people lived in household
with a grandchild present in the house. About 415,000 of these
grandparents over 65 years old were the persons with primary
responsibility for their grandchildren who lived with them.

While a relatively small number (1.56 million) and percentage (4.5%) of
the 65+ population lived in nursing homes in 2000, the percentage
increases dramatically with age, ranging from 1.1% for persons 65-74
years to 4.7% for persons 75-84 years and 18.2% for persons 85+. In
addition, approximately 5% of the elderly lived in self-described senior
housing of various types, many of which have supportive services
available to their residents.

###### Figure 3:  Living Arrangements of Persons 65+: 2004

![](media/image4.wmf){width="2.96875in" height="2.2604166666666665in"}
![](media/image5.wmf){width="2.9791666666666665in"
height="2.2291666666666665in"}

***(Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census including the 2004
Current Population Survey and the 2003 American Community Survey.  See:
March 2004 Current Population Survey Internet releases, Detailed Tables.
and** **"The 65 Years and Over Population: 2000, Census 2000 Brief,
October, 2001" as well as other Census 2000 data and unpublished data
from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.)***

\- 5 -

### Racial and Ethnic Composition

In 2004, 18.1% of persons 65+ were minorities\--8.2% were
African-Americans.\*\* Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any
race) represented 6.0% of the older population. About 2.9 were Asian or
Pacific Islander,\*\* and less than 1% were American Indian or Native
Alaskan.\*\* In addition, 0.6% of persons 65+ identified themselves as
being of two or more races.

Only 6.8% of minority race and Hispanic populations were 65+ in 2004
(8.3% of African-Americans,\*\* 8.4% of Asians and Pacific
Islanders,\*\* 7.2% of American Indians and Native Alaskans,\*\* 5.2% of
Hispanics), compared with 15.0% of whites.\*\*

***(Data for this section were compiled from Internet releases of the
Census 2004 Estimates).***

### Geographic Distribution

The proportion of the older persons in the population varies
considerably by state with some states experiencing much greater growth
in their older populations (Figures 4 and 5). In 2004, about half (52%)
of persons 65+ lived in nine states. California had over 3.8 million;
Florida 2.9 million; New York 2.5 million; Texas 2.2 million; and
Pennsylvania 1.9 million.  Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and New Jersey each
had well over 1 million (Figure 6).

Person 65+ constituted approximately 14% or more of the total population
in 8 states in 2004 (Figure 6): Florida (16.8%); West Virginia (15.3%);
Pennsylvania (15.3%); North Dakota (14.7%); Iowa (14.7%); Maine (14.4);
South Dakota (14.2); and Rhode Island (13.9%). In eight states, the 65+
population increased by 20% or more between 1994 and 2004 (Figure 6):
Nevada (58.1%); Alaska (47.9%); Arizona (30.9%); New Mexico (26.4%);
Colorado (22.2%); Delaware (22.2%); Utah (22.1%); and Idaho (20.9%). The
ten jurisdictions with the highest poverty rates for elderly over the
period 2002-2004 were Mississippi (17.2%); Arkansas (16.2%); Texas
(15.0%); South Carolina (13.9%); the District of Columbia (13.8%); New
York (13.6%); Louisiana (13.1%); North Carolina (13.0%); Alabama
(12.8%); and New Mexico (12.4%).

Most persons 65+ lived in metropolitan areas in 2003 (77.4%). About 50%
of older persons lived in the suburbs, 27.2% lived in central cities,
and 22.6% lived in nonmetropolitan areas.

The elderly are less likely to change residence than other age groups.
During the year 2004 only 4.4% of older persons moved as opposed to
14.3% of the under 65 population. Most older movers (53.7%) stayed in
the same county and 76.0% remained in the same state. Only 24% (of the
movers) moved to out-of-state. However, five year Census migration data
from 1995-2000 show that the 85+ segment of the older population had a
higher rate of moving over time. During that five year period, 32.3% of
the 85+ population moved (as opposed to 22.8% of the overall 65+
population), 61.1% of them within the same county.

***(Data for this section and for Figure 4 were compiled primarily from
the Census Population Estimates for 2004 as well as other Internet
releases of the U.S. Bureau of the Census including tables from the
March 2004 Current Population Survey and "Internal Migration of the
Older Population: 1995 to 2000," Census 2000 Special Report, CENSR-10,
August 2003).***

\- 6 -

**Figure 4: Persons 65+ as a Percentage of Total Population  - 2004**

![](media/image6.wmf)

***Based on Census 2004 Population Estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the
Census\
***

\- 7 -

###### 

###### Figure 5:  Percentage Increase in Population 65+ \-- 1994 to 2004

![](media/image7.wmf)

***Based on Census 1994 and 2004 Population Estimates from the U.S.
Bureau of the Census*\
**

\- 8 -

  ------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------------- ---------------
  **Figure 6: The 65+                                            
  Population by                                                  
  State - 2004**                                                 

  **Numbers**         **Number of  **Percent   **Percent         **Percent Below
                      Persons**    of All      Increase from     Poverty
                                   Ages**      1994 to 2004**    2002-2004**

  **US Total (50      36,293,985   12.4%       9.3%              10.2%
  States + DC)**                                                 

  **Alabama**         597,959      13.2%       8.5%              12.8%

  **Alaska**          41,887       6.4%        47.9%             7.7%

  **Arizona**         732,071      12.7%       30.9%             7.1%

  **Arkansas**        381,106      13.8%       6.0%              16.2%

  **California**      3,822,957    10.7%       12.7%             8.2%

  **Colorado**        450,971      9.8%        22.2%             9.5%

  **Connecticut**     473,693      13.5%       2.2%              6.4%

  **Delaware**        108,961      13.1%       22.2%             5.7%

  **District of       67,171       12.1%       -12.4%            13.8%
  Columbia**                                                     

  **Florida**         2,927,583    16.8%       13.1%             9.6%

  **Georgia**         847,082      9.6%        19.6%             9.6%

  **Hawaii**          172,008      13.6%       18.6%             9.3%

  **Idaho**           158,695      11.4%       20.9%             5.2%

  **Illinois**        1,520,629    12.0%       2.1%              8.7%

  **Indiana**         772,010      12.4%       5.8%              7.6%

  **Iowa**            433,139      14.7%       -0.1%             8.8%

  **Kansas**          354,579      13.0%       0.4%              9.2%

  **Kentucky**        519,327      12.5%       7.4%              11.8%

  **Louisiana**       527,644      11.7%       7.6%              13.1%

  **Maine**           189,751      14.4%       10.6%             10.6%

  **Maryland**        634,743      11.4%       13.0%             10.7%

  **Massachusetts**   854,343      13.3%       0.1%              12.0%

  **Michigan**        1,246,595    12.3%       5.0%              9.1%

  **Minnesota**       615,179      12.1%       7.7%              8.5%

  **Mississippi**     352,867      12.2%       6.7%              17.5%

  **Missouri**        765,692      13.3%       3.4%              7.9%

  **Montana**         126,549      13.7%       11.9%             10.2%

  **Nebraska**        231,803      13.3%       1.6%              10.7%

  **Nevada**          262,079      11.2%       58.1%             8.2%

  **New Hampshire**   156,672      12.1%       15.7%             7.2%

  **New Jersey**      1,126,141    12.9%       4.0%              9.4%

  **New Mexico**      229,474      12.1%       26.4%             12.4%

  **New York**        2,492,816    13.0%       3.6%              13.6%

  **North Carolina**  1,032,249    12.1%       16.3%             13.0%

  **North Dakota**    93,171       14.7%       -0.1%             9.5%

  **Ohio**            1,524,916    13.3%       2.8%              7.7%

  **Oklahoma**        464,440      13.2%       5.4%              11.3%

  **Oregon**          459,821      12.8%       9.1%              5.8%

  **Pennsylvania**    1,896,503    15.3%       -0.3%             8.4%

  **Rhode Island**    150,587      13.9%       -2.8%             10.6%

  **South Carolina**  520,392      12.4%       19.5%             13.9%

  **South Dakota**    109,493      14.2%       4.2%              11.4%

  **Tennessee**       738,053      12.5%       13.0%             12.2%

  **Texas**           2,216,610    9.9%        18.4%             15.0%

  **Utah**            207,711      8.7%        22.1%             6.7%

  **Vermont**         80,762       13.0%       15.6%             7.0%

  **Virginia**        846,921      11.4%       17.0%             10.4%

  **Washington**      703,145      11.3%       13.3%             8.8%

  **West Virginia**   278,354      15.3%       0.7%              10.3%

  **Wisconsin**       715,568      13.0%       5.4%              8.2%

  **Wyoming**         61,113       12.1%       17.5%             7.5%
  ------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------------- ---------------

**Population data is from Census Bureau Population Estimates. Poverty
data is from the 2002, 2003, and 2004 figures of the Current Population
Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplements.\
**

\- 9 -

**Income**

The median income of older persons in 2004 was \$21,102 for males and
\$12,080 for females. Median money income of all households headed by
older people rose by 0.3% from 2003 to 2004; however, this difference
was not statistically significant. Households containing families headed
by persons 65+ reported a median income in 2004 of \$35,825 (\$37,375
for non-Hispanic Whites, \$26,282 for African-Americans, \$40,120 for
Asians, and \$25,179 for Hispanics). About one of every ten (9.9%)
family households with an elderly householder had incomes less than
\$15,000 and 51.5% had incomes of \$35,000 or more (Figure 7).

###### Figure 7: Percent Distribution by Income: 2004\*

![](media/image8.wmf){width="4.385416666666667in"
height="3.4791666666666665in"}

***\$35,825 median for 12.1 million family households 65+ \
***

![](media/image9.wmf){width="4.364583333333333in"
height="2.9791666666666665in"}

***\$15,193 median for 34.2 million persons 65+ reporting income\
***

\- 10 -

For all older persons reporting income in 2004 (34.2 million), 28.1%
reported less than \$10,000. Only 27.3% reported \$25,000 or more. The
median income reported was \$15,193.

The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2003 were
Social Security (reported by 90% of older persons), income from assets
(reported by 56%), private pensions (reported by 30%), government
employee pensions (reported by 14%), and earnings (reported by 23%). In
2003, Social Security benefits accounted for 39% of the aggregate income
of the older population. The bulk of the remainder consisted of earnings
(25%), asset income (14%), and pensions (19%). For one third of older
Americans, Social Security constituted 90% or more of their income.

***(Based on data from Current Population Survey, Annual Social and
Economic Supplement, \"Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in
the United States: 2004,\" P60‑229, issued August, 2005,  by the U.S.
Bureau of the Census, related Census detailed tables on the Census
Bureau web site, and from Fast Facts and Figures About Social Security,
2005, Social Security Administration)***

### Poverty

About 3.6 million elderly persons (9.8%) were below the poverty level in
2004. This change in the poverty rate was a statistically significant
decrease from the poverty rate in 2003 of 10.2%. The historic lowest
level of 9.7% was reached in 1999. Another 2.3 million or 6.7% of the
elderly were classified as \"near-poor\" (income between the poverty
level and 125% of this level).

One of every twelve (7.5%) elderly Whites\*\* was poor in 2004, compared
to 23.9% of elderly African-Americans, 13.6% of Asians, and 18.7% of
elderly Hispanics. Higher than average poverty rates were found in 2003
for older persons were found among those who lived in central cities
(13.1%), outside metropolitan areas (i.e. rural areas) (11.0%), and in
the South (11.9%).

Older women had a higher poverty rate (12.0%) than older men (7.0%) in
2004. Older persons living alone were much more likely to be poor
(17.9%) than were older persons living with families (5.7%). The highest
poverty rates (39.9%) were experienced by older Black women and also
among Hispanic women who lived alone.

### *(Based on data from Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, \"Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004,\" P60‑229, issued August, 2005,  by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and related Census detailed tables on the Census Bureau web site)*

### Housing

Of the 21.6 million households headed by older persons in 2003, 80% were
owners and 20% were renters. The median family income of older
homeowners was \$25,353. The median family income of older renters was
\$13,540. In 2003, 42% of older householders spent more than one-fourth
of their income on housing costs - 35% for owners and 76% for renters -
.as compared to 41% of all householders.

For homes occupied by older householders in 2003, the median year of
construction was 1965 (it was 1971 for all householders) and 5.2% had
physical problems. In 2003, the median value of homes owned by older
persons was \$122,790 (with a median purchase price of \$32,905)
compared to a median home value of \$140,201 for all homeowners. About
72% of older homeowners in 2003 owned their homes free and clear.

***(Source: \"American Housing Survey for the United States in 2003,
Current Housing Reports\" H150/03)***

\- 11 -

### Employment

In 2004, 5.0 million (14.4 %) Americans age 65 and over were in the
labor force (working or actively seeking work), including 2.8 million
men (19.0%) and 2.2 million women (11.1%). They constituted 3.4% of the
U.S. labor force. About 3.6% were unemployed. Labor force participation
of men 65+ decreased steadily from 2 of 3 in 1900 to 15.8% in 1985, and
has stayed at 16%-18% since then. The participation rate for women 65+
rose slightly from 1 of 12 in 1900 to 10.8% in 1956, fell to 7.3% in
1985, and has been around 8%-10% since 1988.

***(Source: Current Population Survey, labor force statistics. See:
Bureau of Labor Statistics web-site: http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm)***

### Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. Between
1970 and 2004, the percentage who had completed high school rose from
28% to 73%. Almost 19% in 2004 had a bachelor\'s degree or more. The
percentage who had completed high school varied considerably by race and
ethnic origin in 2004: 78% of Whites\*\*, 65% of Asians and Pacific
Islanders, 53% of African-Americans, and 38% of Hispanics. The increase
in educational levels is also evident within these groups. In 1970, only
30% of older Whites and 9% of older African-Americans were high school
graduates.

***(Source: Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic
Supplement, 2004 and related tables on the Census Bureau web site)***

### Health and Health Care

In 2004, 36.7% of noninstitutionalized older persons assessed their
heath as excellent or very good (compared to 66.0% for persons aged
18-64). There was little difference between the sexes on this measure,
but African-Americans\*\* (25.1%), older American Indians/Alaska Natives
(28.2%) and older Hispanics (28.6%) were less likely to rate their
health as excellent or good than were older Whites\*\* (39.6%) or older
Asians (34.6%).\*\*\*\* Most older persons have at least one chronic
condition and many have multiple conditions. Among the most frequently
occurring conditions of elderly in 2002-2003 were: hypertension (51%),
diagnosed arthritis (48%), all types of heart disease (31%), any cancer
(21%), diabetes (16.0), and sinusitis (14%).

Almost 65% reported in 2004 that they received an influenza vaccination
during the past 12 months and 57% reported that they had ever received a
pneumococcal vaccination. About 24% (of persons 60+) report
height/weight combinations that place them among the obese. Over 27% of
persons aged 65-74 and 16% of persons 75+ report that they engage in
regular leisure-time physical activity. Only 9% reported that they are
current smokers and only 4% reported excessive alcohol consumption. Only
2.2% reported that they had experienced psychological distress during
the past 30 days.

In 2003, over 13.2 million persons aged 65 and older were discharged
from short stay hospitals. This is a rate of 3,679 for every 10,000
persons aged 65+ which is more than three times the comparable rate for
persons of all ages (which was 1,195 per 10,000). The average length of
stay for persons aged 65+ was 5.8 days; the comparable rate for persons
of all ages was 4.8 days. The average length of stay for older people
has decreased by 5 days since 1980. Older persons averaged more office
visits with doctors in

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2003 -- 5.9 for those aged 65-74 and 7.5 for persons over 75 while
persons aged 45-65 averaged only 3.8 office visits during that year.
Almost 96% of older persons reported that they did have a usual place to
go for medical care and only 2.6% said that they failed to obtain needed
medical care during the previous 12 months due to financial barriers.

In 2003, older consumers averaged \$3,899 in out-of-pocket health care
expenditures, an increase of 46% since 1993. In contrast, the total
population spent considerably less, averaging \$2,574 in out-of-pocket
costs. Older Americans spent 12.5%of their total expenditures on health,
more than twice the proportion spent by all consumers (5.9%). Health
costs incurred on average by older consumers in 2003 consisted of
\$2,142 (55%) for insurance, \$920 (24%) for drugs, \$678 (17%) for
medical services, and \$158 (4%) for medical supplies.

***(Sources: Advanced Data From Vital and Health Statistics and other
data releases from the National Center for Health Statistics web site
including the Data Warehouse on Trends in Health and Aging; and the
Bureau of Labor Statistics web site)***

### Health Insurance Coverage

In 2004, almost all (96%) non-institutionalized persons 65+ were covered
by Medicare. Medicare covers mostly acute care services and requires
beneficiaries to pay part of the cost, leaving about half of health
spending to be covered by other sources. About 61% had some type of
private health insurance. Over 7% had military-based health insurance
and 9% of the non-institutionalized elderly were covered by Medicaid.
Less than 1% did not have coverage of some kind. Over 87% of
non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries in 2002 had some type of
supplementary coverage. However, among Medicare beneficiaries residing
in nursing homes, almost 58% were covered by Medicaid in 2001.

**Figure 8:**

![](media/image10.wmf){width="5.125in" height="3.4479166666666665in"}

Note: Figure 8 data is for the non-institutionalized elderly. A person
can be represented in more than one category. ***(Source: U.S. Census
Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2005 Annual Social and Economic
Supplement. Based on Detailed Tables on Health Insurance Coverage, U.S.
Bureau of the Census web site. Medicare beneficiary data is from the
Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey)***

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**Disability and Activity Limitations**

In 1997, more than half of the older population (54.5%) reported having
at least one disability of some type (physical or nonphysical). Some of
these disabilities may be relatively minor but others cause people to
require assistance to meet important personal needs. Over a third
(37.7%) reported at least one severe disability. The percentages with
disabilities increase sharply with age (Figure 8). Disability takes a
much heavier toll on the very old. Almost three-fourths (73.6%) of those
aged 80+ report at least one disability. Over half (57.6%) of those aged
80+ had one or more severe disabilities and 34.9% of the 80+ population
reported needing assistance as a result of disability. There is a strong
relationship between disability status and reported health status. Among
those 65+ with a severe disability, 68.0% reported their health as fair
or poor. Among the 65+ persons who reported no disability, only 10.5%
reported their health as fair or poor. Presence of a severe disability
is also associated with lower income levels and educational attainment.

In another study which focused on the ability to perform specific
activities of daily living (ADLs), over 27.3% of community-resident
Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 in 1999 had difficulty in performing
one or more ADLs and an additional 13.0% reported difficulties with
instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). By contrast, 93.3% of
institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries had difficulties with one or
more ADLs and 76.3% of them had difficulty with three or more ADLS.
\[ADLs include bathing, dressing, eating, and getting around the house.
IADLs include preparing meals, shopping, managing money, using the
telephone, doing housework, and taking medication\]. Limitations on
activities because of chronic conditions increase with age. As shown in
Figure 9 (from a more recent survey), the rate of limitations on
activities among persons 85 and older are much higher than those for
persons 65-74.

###### Figure 9:

![](media/image11.wmf){width="5.250694444444444in"
height="3.767361111111111in"}

It should be noted that (except where noted) the figures above are taken
from surveys of the noninstitutionalized elderly. Although nursing homes
are being increasingly used for short-stay post-

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acute care, about 1.6 million elderly are in nursing homes (about half
are age 85 and over). These individuals often have high needs for care
with their ADLs and/or have severe cognitive impairment, due to
Alzheimer\'s disease or other dementias.

***(Sources: Internet releases of the Census Bureau and the National
Center on Health Statistics, including the NCHS Data Warehouse on Trends
in Health and Aging)***

**Caregiving**

About 11% (3.7 million) of older Medicare enrollees received personal
care from a paid or unpaid source in 1999. Almost all community resident
older persons with chronic disabilities receive either informal care
(from family or friends) or formal care (from service provider
agencies). Over 90% of all these older persons with chronic disabilities
received informal care and/or formal care; and about two thirds received
only informal care. About 9 % of this chronically disabled group
received only formal services.

***(Source: National Long Term Care Survey)***

**Special Topic: Computer and Internet Access**

Among the 23.0 million households where the householder was 65 or older,
8.0 million households (34.7%) had a computer, slightly more than half
the figure for the general population (61.8%). Internet access was
present in 6.8 million (29.4%) of the elderly households which is 53.7%
of the figure for the general population (54.7%). On an individual
basis, 13.8 million (40.1%) of the older persons had home computer
access and 11.8 million (34.4%) had home Internet access, which is 58.4%
of the figure for the general population. As shown in Figure 10, these
figures represent a substantial increase in computer and internet access
among older persons in the four years from 2000 to 2003. Of these
people, 8.6 million (25.1% of the elderly) used the Internet, mostly for
email, information on and purchase of products and services, and health
information.

###### Figure 10: Computer and Internet Access: 2000 and 2003

![](media/image12.wmf){width="4.927083333333333in"
height="2.7708333333333335in"}

***(Sources: Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003,
Current Population Reports, P23-208, Bureau of the Census, October, 2005
and related Detailed Tables; and Computer and Internet Use in the United
States: 2000, Current Population Reports, P23-207, Bureau of the Census,
September, 2001)***

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**Notes:**

\*Principal sources of data for the Profile are the U.S. Bureau of the
Census, the National Center on Health Statistics, and the Bureau of
Labor Statistics. The Profile incorporates the latest data available but
not all items are updated on an annual basis.

\*\*Excludes persons of Hispanic origin.

\*\*\*Calculated on the basis of the official poverty definitions for
the years 2002-2004

\*\*\*\* Census 2000 figure

\*\*\*\*\* 2002-2004 combined data

*A Profile of Older Americans: 2005* was prepared by the Administration
on Aging (AoA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The annual
Profile of Older Americans was originally developed and researched by
Donald G. Fowles, AoA. Saadia Greenberg, AoA, developed the 2005
edition.

AoA serves as an advocate for the elderly within the federal government
and is working to encourage and coordinate a responsive system of family
and community based services throughout the nation. AoA helps states
develop comprehensive service systems which are administer by 56 State
and Territorial Units on Aging, 655 Area Agencies on Aging, 226 Native
American and Hawaiian organizations, and more than 29,000 local service
providers.

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