2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 1

2020 

PROFILE OF OLDER 

AMERICANS

PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 2021

The Administration for Community Living, which includes 

the Administration on Aging, is an operating division of the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 2

Profile Notes

This report is prepared by the Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the 

Administration for Community Living, an operating division of the U.S. Department 

of Health and Human Services.

AoA serves as an advocate for older adults 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 administered by a national network of 

56 state agencies on aging, 618 area agencies on aging, nearly 20,000 service 

providers, and 282 Title VI grantees representing over 400 federally recognized 

tribes, made up of 281 tribal organizations and one Native Hawaiian organization. 

Principal sources of data are the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Center for 

Health Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A complete list of sources 

appears at the end of this report.

This report includes data on the American population age 65 and older unless 

otherwise noted. The phrases “older adults” and “older persons” refer to that 

population. Age-adjusted estimates are used when available.

The data presented refer to the noninstitutionalized population except where noted.

Some numbers in this report may not add up due to rounding.

Editor’s Note: This profile was originally published with an error in the employment data for 2020 which 

appears on pgs. 3, 14, and the table titled, “Rate of Employment: Persons Age 60 and Older by Sex, 

Selected Years 1900 to 2020,” on pg. 15. Specifically, the number of Americans age 65+ who were in 

the labor force (working or actively seeking work) in 2020 was originally published as 9.8 million (18%), 

and has been corrected to 10.6 million (19.4%). The rate of employment of persons age 65+ by sex in 

2020 was published as 22.3% of men and 14.5% of women, and has been corrected to 23.9% of men 

and 15.8% of women.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 3

Profile Highlights

■ In 2019, the population age 65+ was 54.1 million—30 million women and 24.1 

million men.

PEOPLE AGE 65+ REPRESENTED 16% OF THE POPULATION 

IN 2019. THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE 21.6% BY 2040. 

■ In 2020, a larger percentage of older men (70%) than older women (48%) were married.

■ Of older adults age 65+ living in the community, 61% lived with their spouse/partner 

in 2020. About 27% lived alone.

OLDER ADULTS WHO COMPLETED HIGH SCHOOL

28% (1970)

89% (2020)

■ States with the highest percentage of populations age 65+ in 2019: Maine, Florida, 

West Virginia, and Vermont.

■ The 2019 median income of older persons was $27,398 ($36,921 for men and 

$21,815 for women).

■ In 2019, 4.9 million people age 65+ lived below the poverty level. Another 2.6 million 

were “near-poor.” 

■ The median household income of older homeowners was $36,200 in 2019. 

■ In 2020, 10.6 million Americans age 65+ were in the labor force (working or actively 

seeking work).

NEARLY 1 IN 4 OLDER ADULTS WERE MEMBERS OF RACIAL OR 

ETHNIC MINORITY POPULATIONS (2019)

■ Consumers age 65+ averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures of $6,833 in 

2019, up 41% from 2009.

■ In 2019, about 1.1 million people age 60+ were responsible for the basic needs of at 

least one grandchild under age 18 living with them.

■ During COVID-19, between March and April 2020, the unemployment rate for adults 

age 65+ more than quadrupled.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 4

The Older American Population

In the U.S. the population age 65 and older numbered 54.1 million in 2019 

(the most recent year for which data are available). They represented 16% of 

the population, more than one in every seven Americans. The number of older 

Americans has increased by 14.4 million (or 36%) since 2009, compared to an 

increase of 3% for the under-65 population.

Between 2009 and 2019, the number of Americans age 45-64 (who will reach age 

65 over the next two decades) increased by 4% from 80.3 million to 83.3 million. 

The number of Americans age 60 and older increased by 34% from 55.7 million to 

74.6 million.

In 2019, 30 million women and 24.1 million men were age 65 and older. That’s 125 

women for every 100 men. At age 85 and older, this ratio increased to 178 women 

for every 100 men.

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans age 65 and older nearly quadrupled (from 

4.1% in 1900 to 16% in 2019), and the number increased more than 17 times (from 

3.1 million to 54.1 million). The older population itself became increasingly older. 

In 2019, the 65-74 age group (31.5 million) was more than 14 times larger than in 

1900 (2,186,767); the 75-84 group (16 million) was 20 times larger (771,369), and 

the 85+ group (6.6 million) was more than 53 times larger (122,362). 

In 2019, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy 

of an added 19.6 years (20.8 years for women and 18.2 years for 

men). A child born in 2019 could expect to live 78.8 years, more than 

30 years longer than a child born in 1900 (47.3 years).1

In 2019, 3.8 million persons celebrated their 65th birthdays. Census Bureau 

population estimates showed an annual net increase between 2018 and 2019 of 

1.7 million people age 65 and over.

Between 1980 and 2019, the centenarian population experienced a larger 

percentage increase than did the total population. There were 100,322 persons 

age 100 and older in 2019—more than triple the 1980 figure of 32,194.

Future Growth

The older population is expected to continue to grow significantly in the future. 

Growth slowed somewhat during the 1990s because of the relatively small number 

of babies born during the Great Depression of the 1930s. But the older population 

is beginning to burgeon again as more than two-fifths (41%) of the “baby boom” 

generation is now age 65 and older.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 5

The population age 65 and older increased from 39.6 million in 2009 to 54.1 million 

in 2019 (a 36% increase) and is projected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. By 2040, 

there will be about 80.8 million older persons, more than twice as many as in 2000.

People age 65 and older represented 16% of the 

population in the year 2019 but are expected to grow to 

be 21.6% of the population by 2040.

The 85 and older population is projected to more than double from 6.6 million in 

2019 to 14.4 million in 2040 (a 118% increase).

Number of Persons Age 65 and Older, 1900 - 2060 

(numbers in millions)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Note: Increments in years are uneven. Lighter bars (2040 and 2060) indicate 

projections.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates and Projections

Racial and ethnic minority populations increased from 7.8 million in 2009 (20% 

of older Americans) to 12.9 million in 2019 (24% of older Americans) and are 

projected to increase to 27.7 million in 2040 (34% of older adults). Between 2019 

and 2040, the white (not Hispanic) population age 65 and older is projected to 

increase by 29% compared to 115% for racial and ethnic minority populations: 

Hispanic (161%), African American (not Hispanic) (80%), American Indian and 

Alaska Native (not Hispanic) (67%), and Asian American (not Hispanic) (102%).
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 6

Marital Status

In 2020, a larger percentage of older men (70%) than older women (48%) 

were married.

Widows accounted for 30% of all older women in 2020. There were more than 

three times as many widows (8.8 million) as widowers (2.6 million).

Divorced and separated/spouse absent older persons 

represented only 15% of all older persons in 2020, which is 

unchanged from 2019. However, this percentage has 

increased since 1980, when approximately 5% of the older 

population were divorced or separated/spouse absent.

Marital Status of Persons Age 65 and Older, 2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Living Arrangements

Of the older adults living in the community, more than half (61%) of persons age 65 

and older lived with their spouse (including partner) in 2020. Approximately 18 million 

or 73% of older men, and 15 million or 50% of older women, lived with their spouse.

About 27% (14.7 million) of all older adults living in the community in 2020 lived alone 

(5 million men, 9.7 million women). They represented 20% of older men and 33% of 

older women. The proportion living alone increases with advanced age for both men 

and women. Among women age 75 and older, for example, 42% lived alone.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 7

Living Arrangements of Persons Age 65 and Older, 2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

A relatively small number of people (1.2 million) age 65 and older lived in nursing 

homes in 2019. However, the percentage increases with age, ranging from 1% for 

persons ages 65-74 to 2% for persons ages 75-84 and 8% for persons over age 85.

Racial and Ethnic Composition

In 2019, 24% of persons age 65 and older were members of racial or ethnic 

minority populations—9% were African American (not Hispanic), 5% were Asian 

American (not Hispanic), 0.6% were American Indian and Alaska Native (not 

Hispanic), 0.1% were Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (not Hispanic), and 0.8% of 

persons age 65 and older identified themselves as being of two or more races.

Persons of Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) 

represented 9% of the older population.

Only 10% of all the people who were members of racial and ethnic minority 

populations were age 65 and older in 2019 compared to 21% of the non-Hispanic 

white population. The percentage of people age 65 and older within each racial 

and ethnic minority group were as follows.

■ African American (not Hispanic): 12%

■ Asian American (not Hispanic): 13%

■ Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (not Hispanic): 10%

■ American Indian and Alaska Native (not Hispanic): 12%

■ Hispanic: 8%

■ Persons identifying as two or more groups: 6%
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 8

Geographic Distribution

The proportion of older persons in the population varied considerably by state, with 

some states experiencing much greater growth in their older populations. 

In 2019, 51% of persons age 

65 and older lived in nine states:

• California (5.8 million)

• Florida (4.5 million)

• Texas (3.7 million)

• New York (3.3 million)

• Pennsylvania (2.4 million)

• Ohio (2 million)

• Illinois (2 million)

• Michigan (1.8 million)

• North Carolina (1.8 million)

Georgia, New Jersey, Virginia, Arizona, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee, 

Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin each had more than 1 million people age 65 and 

older in 2019.

The four states with the highest percentage of their populations age 65 and older 

in 2019 were Maine (21%), Florida (21%), West Virginia (20%), and Vermont (20%).

In three states, the age 65 and older population increased by 57% or more 

between 2009 and 2019: Alaska (72%), Colorado (58%), and Nevada (57%). 

In 2019, poverty rates were at or above 10% for older adults living in New Mexico 

(13.5%), District of Columbia (13.3%), Louisiana (13.2%), Mississippi (13.2%), New 

York (12%), Kentucky (11.6%), Florida (10.7%), Texas (10.6%), Alabama (10.5%), 

Arkansas (10.5%), California (10.5%), Georgia (10.4%), and South Carolina (10.1%).

A smaller percentage of older adults changed residence as compared with younger 

age groups. From 2019 to 2020, only 4% of older persons moved as opposed to 

10% of the population below age 65. Most older movers (55%) stayed in the same 

county. The other older movers either remained in the same state (26%) or moved 

out-of-state or abroad (19%).
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 9

Persons Age 65 and Older as a Percentage of Total Population, 2019

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates

Increase in Population Age 65 and Older, 2009 to 2019

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 10

The 65 and Older Population by State, 2019

State Persons 

65+

% of 

Population

% Increase 

2009-2019

% Below 

Poverty

Alabama 849,837 17.33% 31.32% 10.5%

Alaska 91,588 12.52% 71.66% 6.9%

Arizona 1,308,633 17.98% 52.01% 9.0%

Arkansas 523,882 17.36% 26.74% 10.5%

California 5,838,115 14.78% 40.20% 10.5%

Colorado 842,412 14.63% 57.67% 7.2%

Connecticut 630,244 17.68% 25.95% 7.3%

Delaware 188,906 19.40% 49.04% 7.3%

District of Columbia 87,343 12.38% 28.90% 13.3%

Florida 4,497,337 20.94% 40.36% 10.7%

Georgia 1,516,954 14.29% 50.68% 10.4%

Hawaii 268,448 18.96% 40.45% 8.7%

Idaho 290,670 16.27% 53.00% 6.9%

Illinois 2,043,232 16.12% 28.30% 8.6%

Indiana 1,085,743 16.13% 30.62% 7.7%

Iowa 552,954 17.53% 22.61% 7.4%

Kansas 475,487 16.32% 27.81% 7.2%

Kentucky 750,564 16.80% 31.45% 11.6%

Louisiana 741,022 15.94% 35.02% 13.2%

Maine 285,265 21.22% 37.22% 8.5%

Maryland 959,396 15.87% 37.97% 7.8%

Massachusetts 1,169,332 16.97% 31.12% 9.1%

Michigan 1,765,401 17.68% 31.32% 8.4%

Minnesota 920,382 16.32% 36.38% 7.4%

Mississippi 486,693 16.35% 29.44% 13.2%

Missouri 1,062,037 17.30% 28.27% 8.9%

Montana 206,437 19.32% 42.97% 8.6%

Nebraska 312,458 16.15% 27.60% 8.1%

Nevada 495,972 16.10% 57.23% 9.5%

New Hampshire 253,864 18.67% 44.73% 6.2%

New Jersey 1,475,535 16.61% 25.78% 8.8%

New Mexico 377,606 18.01% 41.93% 13.5%

New York 3,296,146 16.94% 27.20% 12.0%

North Carolina 1,751,094 16.70% 44.99% 9.1%

North Dakota 119,845 15.73% 24.08% 8.0%

Ohio 2,046,320 17.51% 27.31% 8.3%
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 11

State Persons 

65+

% of 

Population

% Increase 

2009-2019

% Below 

Poverty

Oklahoma 635,132 16.05% 27.04% 9.7%

Oregon 766,080 18.16% 46.35% 8.1%

Pennsylvania 2,393,362 18.70% 22.92% 8.3%

Rhode Island 187,046 17.66% 23.70% 8.9%

South Carolina 937,023 18.20% 51.82% 10.1%

South Dakota 151,871 17.17% 31.37% 7.7%

Tennessee 1,143,393 16.74% 36.62% 9.7%

Texas 3,734,229 12.88% 47.17% 10.6%

Utah 365,872 11.41% 49.93% 6.2%

Vermont 125,039 20.04% 39.57% 6.1%

Virginia 1,358,906 15.92% 42.25% 7.1%

Washington 1,209,723 15.89% 49.83% 7.5%

West Virginia 367,011 20.48% 24.85% 9.3%

Wisconsin 1,017,243 17.47% 32.36% 7.4%

Wyoming 99,179 17.14% 44.88% 7.4%

Puerto Rico 679,656 21.28% 21.50% 39.9%

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates; Current Population Survey, Annual Social and 

Economic Supplement; American Community Survey.

Income

The median income of older persons in 2019 was $27,398. Men had a higher 

median income overall: $36,921 compared to $21,815 for women. From 2018 to 

2019, the real median income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed 

by older people increased by 6.5%, which was statistically significant. Households 

of families headed by persons age 65 and older reported a median income in 

2019 of $70,254 ($74,365 for non-Hispanic white, $50,553 for Hispanic, $51,743 

for African American, and $76,235 for Asian American). About 5% of family 

households with an older adult householder had incomes less than $15,000 and 

81% had incomes of $35,000 or more.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 12

Distribution of Family Households With Householder Age 65 and 

Older by Income, 2019

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Distribution by Income of Persons Age 65 and Older Reporting 

Income, 2019

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

For all older persons reporting income in 2019 (52.8 million), 12% reported less 

than $10,000 and 55% reported $25,000 or more.

Poverty

In 2019, nearly 1 in 10 people age 65 and older (8.9% or 4.9 million) lived below 

the poverty level.2 This poverty rate is statistically different from the poverty rate in 

2018 (9.7%). Another 2.6 million or 4.4% of older adults were classified as “nearpoor” (income between the poverty level and 125% of this level).

In 2019, 6.8% of the older non-Hispanic white population was poor, compared to 

higher percentages of racial and ethnic minority groups: 18% for African American 

population, 9.3% for Asian American, and 17.1% for Hispanic (any race).
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 13

Persons Age 65 and Older Living Below the Poverty Level by 

Race and Hispanic Origin, 2019

0

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Older women had a higher poverty rate (10.3%) than older men (7.2%) in 2019. A 

higher percentage of older persons living alone were poor (16.1%) as compared 

with older persons living with families (5.3%).

The highest poverty rates were experienced among older 

Hispanic women who lived alone (32.1%) and older 

African American women who lived alone (31.7%).

In 2011, the U.S. Census Bureau released a new Supplemental Poverty Measure 

(SPM). The SPM methodology shows a significantly higher number of older persons 

below poverty than is shown by the official poverty measure. For persons age 65 

and older, this poverty measure showed a poverty level of 12.8% in 2019—almost 

4 percentage points higher than the official rate of 8.9%. Unlike the official poverty 

rate, the SPM takes into account regional variations in the cost of housing etc., and, 

even more significantly, the impact of both non-cash benefits received (e.g., SNAP/

food stamps, low income tax credits, and WIC) and non-discretionary expenditures 

including medical out-of-pocket expenses. For persons 65 and older, medical out-ofpocket expenses were the major source of the significant differences between these 

measures. The SPM does not replace the official poverty measure.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 14

Housing

Of the 14.1 million households headed by persons age 75 and older in 2019, 

77% (10.8 million) owned their homes and 23% (3.3 million) rented. The median 

household income of older homeowners was $36,200. The median household 

income of older renters was $18,280. 

In 2019, 45% of older householders spent one-third or more of their 

income on housing costs: 36% for owners and 76% for renters.

For older homeowners age 75 and older in 2019, the median home construction 

year was 1972 compared to 1979 for all homeowners. Among the homes owned 

by people age 75 and older, 3% had moderate to severe problems with plumbing, 

heating, electric, wiring, and/or upkeep. In 2019, the median value of homes 

owned by older persons was $200,000 (with a median purchase price of $75,000). 

In comparison, the median home value of all homeowners was $230,000 (with a 

median purchase price of $150,000).

Employment

In 2020, 10.6 million (19.4%) Americans age 65 and older 

were in the labor force (working or actively seeking work). 

This is a decrease from the 10.7 million (20.2%) older adults in the labor force in 2019.

Older adults constituted 6.6% of the U.S. labor force. Approximately 7.5% were 

unemployed in 2020 compared to 3% in 2019.

Labor force participation of men age 65 and older decreased steadily from 63.1% 

in 1900 to 45.8% in 1950 and then to 15.8% in 1985. It stayed under 20% until 

2006 and has been hovering between 22%-24% for the last few years. The labor 

force participation rate for women age 65 and older rose slightly from 8.3% in 

1900 to 9.7% in 1950 and then fell to 7.3% in 1985. It stayed at 8%-9% during the 

1990s. Beginning in 2000, the labor force participation rate of older women started 

to gradually rise to the 2019 level of 16.4%. It declined in 2020 to 15.8%.

See the special section on COVID-19 for a more detailed discussion about the 

increase in unemployment during 2020.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 15

Rate of Employment: Persons Age 65 and Older by Sex, Selected 

Years 1900 to 2020

Note: Increments between years are uneven.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, Labor Force Statistics, Household Data; 

U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census, 1990
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 16

Education

The educational level of the older population is increasing. 

Between 1970 and 2020, the percentage of older persons 

who had completed high school rose from 28% to 89%. 

Approximately one-third (33%) in 2020 had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The 

education level of older adults varied considerably by race and ethnic origin. 

Percentage of Persons Age 65 and Older Who Completed High School 

or a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher by Race and Hispanic Origin, 2020

Note: The race categories white, African American, Asian, and American Indian 

and Alaska Native refer to people who reported only one race category and did not 

report being Hispanic.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2020 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

The increase in educational levels is also clear within these groups. In 1970, only 

30% of older white adults and 9% of older African American adults were high 

school graduates.

Health and Health Care

In 2019, 22.3% of the population age 65 to 74 assessed their health as fair or poor 

as compared to 29.3% of the population age 75 and over. 

Most older Americans have at least one chronic condition 

and many have multiple conditions.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 17

Leading chronic conditions among adults age 65 and older in 2019 include arthritis 

(48%); coronary heart disease (14%); myocardial infarction (9%); angina (4%); any 

cancer (25%); COPD, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis (10%); stroke (9% in 2017-

2018); and physician-diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes (29% in 2015-2018).

In 2015-2018, 82% of men age 75 and older and 86% of women age 75 and older 

had hypertension or were taking antihypertensive medication. 

In 2019, 71% of people age 65 and older reported that they received an influenza 

vaccination during the past 12 months and 67% reported that they had ever 

received a pneumococcal vaccination. In 2019, 8.2% of persons age 65 and older 

reported that they were current smokers. In 2015-2018, 32% of men age 75 and 

over and 36% of women age 75 and over were obese.

In 2019, 13% of people age 65 and older reported taking 

prescription medicine for feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety 

and 12% reported taking prescription medicine for depression.

In 2019, 96% of persons age 65 and older reported that they had a usual place to 

go for medical care, 26% had a hospital emergency department visit in the past 

year, and only 3% said that they failed to obtain needed medical care during the 

previous 12 months due to cost.

Consumers age 65 and older averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures 

of $6,833 in 2019, an increase of 41% since 2009 ($4,846). In contrast, the total 

population spent considerably less, averaging $5,193 in out-of-pocket costs. Older 

Americans spent 13.6% of their total expenditures on health, as compared to 8.2% 

among all consumers. Health costs incurred on average by older consumers in 

2019 consisted of $4,748 (69%) for insurance, $1,054 (15%) for medical services, 

$737 (11%) for drugs, and $293 (4%) for medical supplies.

Health Insurance Coverage

In 2019, almost all (94%) non-institutionalized persons age 65 and older 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 half of older adults (52%) had some type of 

private health insurance, 6% had military-based health insurance, 6% were covered 

by Medicaid, and 1% had no coverage.
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 18

Notes: Military includes VA/CHAMPVA/TRICARE.

A person can be represented in more than one category.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Disability and Physical Functioning

In 2019, 19% of adults age 65 and older reported they could not function at all or 

had a lot of difficulty with at least one of six functioning domains. In each domain, the 

percentage reporting any level of difficulty varied. Specifically, 22% reported trouble 

seeing (even if wearing glasses), 31% reported difficulty hearing (even if wearing 

hearing aids), 40% reported trouble with mobility (walking or climbing stairs), 8% 

reported difficulty with communication (understanding or being understood by others), 

27% reported trouble with cognition (remembering or concentrating), and 9% reported 

difficulty with self-care (such as washing all over or dressing). 

Physical Functioning Among People Age 65 and Older, 2019

Note: “Any disability” includes those reported who “a lot of difficulty” or “cannot do 

it at all” in any functioning domain. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health 

Interview Survey

Health Insurance Coverage of Non-institutionalized Persons Age 

65 and Older, 2020
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 19

Caregiving

Older adults often provide care to younger family members. For example, 

approximately 1.1 million grandparents age 60 and older were responsible for the 

basic needs of one or more grandchildren under age 18 living with them in 2019. 

Of these caregivers, 60% were grandmothers and 40% were grandfathers.

In 2019, among the 5.37 million people with intellectual and developmental 

disabilities (I/DD) living with a family caregiver, 24% had caregivers who were age 

60 and older (1,304,998). The percentage of people with I/DD living with older 

caregivers ranged from 13% in Utah to 24% in Florida.3

Special Section: COVID-19

Employment

Adults age 65 and older have experienced the same trend in increased 

unemployment rates as other age groups during COVID-19. Between March 

and April 2020, the unemployment rate among people age 65 and older more 

than quadrupled from 3.7% to 15.6% as compared to the overall unemployment 

rate tripling from 4.4% to 14.8% during the same time period. This increase in 

unemployment rates for older adults reverses years of increasing numbers of older 

adults remaining in or returning to the labor force.

Among adults age 65 and older with a disability, the 

unemployment rate increased from 4.8% in January 2020 to 15.3% in 

April 2020, and is currently at 5.5% in April 2021.

Monthly Unemployment Rates During COVID-19 for People Age 65 

and Older With and Without a Disability, 2020-2021

Note: Data are not seasonally adjusted.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 20

Mental Health

COVID-19 has also taken a toll on mental health, with older adults reporting an 

increase in symptoms of anxiety or depression. Among those age 80 and older, this 

increase occurred most dramatically between late 2020 and early 2021. Compared 

with younger age groups, however, a smaller percentage of older adults in the age 

groups 60-69, 70-79, and 80 and older, reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. 

Percentage of People Reporting Symptoms of Anxiety or 

Depression During Last 7 Days by Age Group, 2020-2021

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Well-Being4

■ 21% of Medicare beneficiaries (all ages) reported feeling more lonely or sad (25% 

women, 14% men)

■ 15% of Medicare beneficiaries (all ages) reported feeling less financially secure (16% 

women, 13% men)

■ 38% of Medicare beneficiaries (all ages) reported feeling less socially connected to 

family and friends (42% women, 33% men)

Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS)

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

80 years and above

70 - 79 years

60 - 69 years

50 - 59 years

40 - 49 years

30 - 39 years

18 - 29 years

Mar 

17-29

Feb 17-

Mar 1

Jan 20-

Feb 1

Dec 

9-21

Nov 

11-23

Oct 

14-26

Sep 

16-28

Aug 

19-31

July 

9-14

June 

25-30

June 

11-16

May 28-

June 2

May 

14-19

Apr 23-

May 5
2020 PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS | PAGE 21

Endnotes

1 Kochanek KD, Xu JQ, Arias E. Mortality in the United States, 2019. NCHS Data Brief, no 395. 

Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.

2 The poverty threshold in 2019 was $12,261 for householders age 65 and older and living alone.

3 Tanis, et al., Forthcoming. State of the States in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. 

Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado.

4 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (MCBS) 

COVID-19 Supplement. Accessed on February 6, 2021 at https://www.norc.org/Research/

Projects/Pages/mcbs-covid-19-rapid-response-supplement.aspx. MCBS data include Medicare 

beneficiaries less than 65 years old.