A Profile 

of 

Older Americans: 2008 

Administration on Aging 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
ii 

Table of Contents 

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

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

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

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900 – 2030 (number in millions)...............................3

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

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+, 2007 ..................................................................4

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

Figure 3A: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+, 2007 (Men) ...........................................5

Figure 3B: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+, 2007 (Women)......................................5

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

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

Figure 4: Persons 65+ as a Percentage of Total Population, 2007....................................7

Figure 5: Percentage Increase in Population 65+, 1997 to 2007 .......................................8

Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State 2007 ......................................................................9

Income ...........................................................................................................................................10

Figure 7A: Percent Distribution by Income: 2007 (Family Households 65+)....................10

Figure 7B: Percent Distribution by Income: 2007 (Person 65+ Reporting Income)..........10

Poverty ...........................................................................................................................................11

Housing ..........................................................................................................................................11

Employment ...................................................................................................................................12

Education .......................................................................................................................................12

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

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

Figure 8: Health Insurance Coverage of Persons 65+: 2007 (%)....................................13

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

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

2006 ..................................................................................................................................14

Caregiving ......................................................................................................................................15

Notes..............................................................................................................................................15
1 

 

Highlights * 

• The older population (65+) numbered 37.9 million in 2007, an increase of 3.8 million or 11.2% since 

1997. 

• The number of Americans aged 45-64 – who will reach 65 over the next two decades – increased by 

38% during this decade. 

• Over one in every eight, or 12.6 percent, of the population is an older American. 

• Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 19.0 years (20.3 years 

for females and 17.4 years for males). 

• Older women outnumber older men at 21.9 million older women to 16.0 million older men. 

• In 2007, 19.3% of persons 65+ were minorities--8.3% were African-Americans.** Persons of 

Hispanic origin (who may be of any race) represented 6.6% of the older population. About 3.2% 

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--73% of men vs. 42% of women 

(Figure 2). 42% older women in 2007 were widows. 

• About 30 percent (10.9 million) of noninstitutionalized older persons live alone (7.9 million women, 

2.9 million men). 

• Half of older women (49%) age 75+ live alone. 

• About 450,000 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 5.7 million in 2010 (a 36% 

increase) and then to 6.6 million in 2020 (a 15% increase for that decade). 

• Minority populations are projected to increase from 5.7 million in 2000 (16.3% of the elderly 

population) to 8.0 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 2007 was $24,323 for males and $14,021 for females. 

Median money income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people did not 

change in a statistically different amount from 2006 to 2007. Households containing families headed 

by persons 65+ reported a median income in 2007 of $41,851. 

• Major sources of income for older people in 2006 were: Social Security (reported by 89 percent of 

older persons), income from assets (reported by 55 percent), private pensions (reported by 29 

percent), government employee pensions (reported by 14 percent), and earnings (reported by 25 

percent). 

• Social Security constituted 90% or more of the income received by 32% of all Social Security 

beneficiaries (20% of married couples and 41% of non-married beneficiaries). 

• About 3.6 million elderly persons (9.7%) were below the poverty level in 2007 which is a statistically 

significant increase from the poverty rate in 2006 (9.4%). 

• 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. 
2 

The Older Population 

The older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 37.9 million in 2007 (the most recent year for 

which data are available). They represented 12.6% of the U.S. population, over one in every eight 

Americans. The number of older Americans increased by 3.8 million or 11.2% since 1997, compared to 

an increase of 12.9% for the under-65 population. However, the number of Americans aged 45-64 – who 

will reach 65 over the next two decades – increased by 38% during this period. 

In 2007, there were 21.9 million older women and 16.0 million older men, or a sex ratio of 137 women for 

every 100 men. The female to male sex ratio increases with age, ranging from 114 for the 65-69 age 

group to a high of 210 for persons 85 and over. 

Since 1900, the percentage of Americans 65+ has tripled (from 4.1% in 1900 to 12.6% in 2007), and the 

number has increased twelve times (from 3.1 million to 37.9 million). The older population itself is getting 

older. In 2007, the 65-74 age group (19.4 million) was over 8.8 times larger than in 1900, but the 75-84 

group (13.0 million) was 17 times larger and the 85+ group (5.5 million) was 45 times larger. 

In 2006, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 19.0 years (20.3 years 

for females and 17.4 years for males). A child born in 2006 could expect to live 78.1 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 1985-2005 also has seen reduced death rates for the 

population aged 65-84, especially for men – by 32.3% for men aged 65-74 and by 23.5% for men aged 

75-84. Life expectancy at age 65 increased by only 2.5 years between 1900 and 1960, but has increased 

by 4.7 years from 1960 to 2006. 

About 2.4 million persons celebrated their 65th birthday in 2007. In the same year, about 1.8 million 

persons 65 or older died. Census estimates showed an annual net increase of 634,893 in the number of 

persons 65 and over. 

There were 80,771 persons aged 100 or more in 2007 (0.21% of the total 65+ population). This is a 117% 

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/Trends in Health and Aging Data Warehouse). 
 

Future Growth

The older population will continue to grow significantly in the future (see Figure 1). 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 72.1 million 

older persons, almost twice their number in 2007. People 65+ represented 12.6% of the population in the 

year 2007 but are expected to grow to be 19.3% of the population by 2030. The 85+ population is 

projected to increase from 5.5 million in 2007 to 5.8 million in 2010 and then to 6.6 million in 2020 (15%) 

for that decade. 

Minority populations are projected to increase from 5.7 million in 2000 (16.3% of the elderly population) to 

8.0 million in 2010 (20.1% of the elderly) and then to 12.9 million in 2020 (23.6% of the elderly). Between 

2007 and 2030, the white** population 65+ is projected to increase by 68% compared with 184% for older 

minorities, including Hispanics (244%), African-Americans** (126%), American Indians, Eskimos, and 

Aleuts** (167%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders** (213%). 

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 1900 – 2030 (number in millions) 

Figure 1: Number of Persons 65+, 

1900 - 2030 (numbers in millions)

3.1 4.9 9

16.6

25.5

31.2 35

40.2

54.8

72.1

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030

Year (as of July 1)

Note: Increments in years are uneven. 

(Sources: Projections for 2010 through 2050 are from: Table 12. Projections of the Population by 

Age and Sex for the United States: 2010 to 2050 (NP2008-T12), Population Division, U.S. Census 

Bureau; Release Date: August 14, 2008. The source of the data for 1900 to 2000 is Table 5. 

Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 1900 to 2000, Part A. Number, Hobbs, Frank and 

Nicole Stoops, U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Special Reports, Series CENSR-4, Demographic 

Trends in the 20th Century. The figures for 2007 are from the Census Bureau 2007 population 

estimates. ) 

3 
 

 

Marital Status 

In 2007, older men were much more likely to be married than older women--73% of men, 42% of women 

(Figure 2). Widows accounted for 42% of all older women in 2007. There were over four times as many 

widows (8.7 million) as widowers (2.0 million). 

Divorced and separated (including married/spouse absent) older persons represented only 11.1% of all 

older persons in 2007. However, this percentage has increased since 1980, when approximately 5.3% of 

the older population were divorced or separated/spouse absent. 

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+, 2007 

Figure 2: Marital Status of Persons 65+, 2007

42%

12%

4%

42%

73%

10%

4%

13%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Married Widowed Divorced or

Separated/

Spouse

Absent

Single

(never

married)

Women Men

(Based on Internet releases of data from the 2007 Current Population Survey, Annual Social and 

Economic Supplement of the U.S. Bureau of the Census) 

4 
 

Living Arrangements

Over half of (55.3%) the older non-institutionalized persons lived with their spouse in 2007. Approximately 

11.2 million or 72.8% of older men, and 8.7 million or 42.2% of older women, lived with their spouse 

(Figure 3). The proportion living with their spouse decreased with age, especially for women. Only 30.1% 

of women 75+ years old lived with a spouse. 

About 30.2% (10.9 million) of all non-institutionalized older persons in 2007 lived alone (7.9 million 

women, 2.9 million men). They represented 38.6 of older women and 19.0% of older men. The proportion 

living alone increases with advanced age. Among women aged 75 and over, for example, half (49%) lived 

alone. 

More than 670,000 grandparents aged 65 or over maintained households in which grandchildren were 

present in 2007. (Another 234,000 elderly were spouses of such people.) In addition, almost 857,000 

grandparents over 65 years lived in parent-maintained households in which their grandchildren were 

present. A total of about 1.83 million older people lived in household with a grandchild present in the 

house. About 450,000 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 (1.57 million) and percentage (4.4%) of the 65+ population in 2007 lived 

in institutional settings such as nursing homes, the percentage increases dramatically with age, ranging 

from 1.3% for persons 65-74 years to 4.1% for persons 75-84 years and 15.1% for persons 85+. In 

addition, approximately 2%-5% (depending on the definition) of the elderly lived in senior housing with at 

least one supportive service available to their residents. 

Figure 3A: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+, 2007 (Men) 

Men 

73%

19%

8%

living with spouse

living alone 

Other

 

Figure 3B: Living Arrangements of Persons 65+, 2007 (Women) 

Women

42%

39%

19%

living with spouse

living alone 

Other

5 

(Based on data from U.S. Bureau of the Census including the 2007 Current Population Survey, Annual Social 

and Economic Supplement and the 2007 American Community Survey. See: March 2008 Current Population 

Survey Internet releases, Detailed Tables and unpublished data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 

Services.) 
6 

 

Racial and Ethnic Composition 

In 2007, 19.3% of persons 65+ were minorities--8.3% were African-Americans.** Persons of Hispanic 

origin (who may be of any race) represented 6.6% of the older population. About 3.2% 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 7.1% of all the people who were minority race or of Hispanic ethnicity were 65+ in 2007 (8.5% of 

African-Americans,** 5.5% of Hispanics, 9.3% of Asians and Pacific Islanders,** 8.1% of American 

Indians and Native Alaskans,**), compared with 15.4% of non-Hispanic whites.** 

(Data for this section were compiled from Internet releases of the Census 2007 Population 

Estimates). 

Geographic Distribution 

The proportion of 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 2007, about half 

(52.4%) of persons 65+ lived in nine states. California had 4.0 million; Florida 3.1 million; New York 

2.5 million; Texas 2.4 million; and Pennsylvania 1.9 million, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and New Jersey each 

had well over 1 million (Figure 6). 

Person 65+ constituted approximately 14% or more of the total population in 10 states in 2007 (Figure 6): 

Florida (18.5%); Pennsylvania (15.8%); Rhode Island (15.8%) West Virginia (15.1%); Iowa (15.0%); North 

Dakota (14.4%); Connecticut (14.4); Arkansas (14.3%); South Dakota (14.3%); and Massachusetts 

(14.1%). In ten states, the 65+ population increased by 20% or more between 1997 and 2007 (Figure 6): 

Alaska (49.6%); Nevada (48.3%); Arizona (36.2%); Utah (30.0%); New Mexico (29.7%); Idaho (27.8%); 

Georgia (27.7%); South Carolina (26.3%) ; Colorado (25.2%); and Delaware (24.7%). The ten 

jurisdictions with the highest poverty rates for elderly during 2007 were the District of Columbia (14.6%), 

Mississippi (14.5%), North Dakota (14.4%), Kentucky (13.1%), Louisiana (13.1%), New Mexico (13.0%), 

Georgia (12.2%), South Carolina (12.1%), Texas (12.0%), and Alabama (11.9%). 

Most persons 65+ lived in metropolitan areas in 2007 (80.5%). About 63.3% of these older persons lived 

outside the principal cities and 36.7% lived in principal cities. Also, 19.5% of older persons lived in 

nonmetropolitan areas. 

The elderly are less likely to change residence than other age groups. From 2006 to 2007, only 4.2% of 

older persons moved as opposed to 17.0% of the under 65 population. Most older movers (57.9%) stayed 

in the same county and 78.9% remained in the same state. Only 21.1% of the movers moved out-of-state. 

(Data for this section and for Figures 4-6 were compiled primarily from the Census Population 

Estimates for 2007 as well as other Internet releases of the U.S. Bureau of the Census including 

tables from the March 2008 Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement 

and the 2007 American Community survey) 
Figure 4: Persons 65+ as a Percentage of Total Population, 2007 

Percent of Persons 65+ in 2007

by State

13.96% to 16.98% (9)

13.27% to 13.95% (11)

12.72% to 13.26% (10)

11.86% to 12.71% (10)

7.01% to 11.85% (11)

(Source: 2007 Population Estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census) 

7 
Figure 5: Percentage Increase in Population 65+, 1997 to 2007 

Percent Increase in 65+ Population 1997-2007

by State

24.8% to 49.7% (9)

15% to 24.7% (11)

9.6% to 14.9% (9)

4% to 9.5% (11)

-6% to 3.9% (11)

(Source: 1997 and 2007 Population Estimates from the U.S. Bureau of the Census)

8 
9 

 Figure 6: The 65+ Population by State 2007 

Numbers 

Number of 

Persons 65 

and Older 

Percent 

of All 

Ages 

Percent 

Increase from 

1997 to 2007 

Percent Below 

Poverty 2007 

 US Total (50 States + DC) 37,887,958 12.6% 11.2% 9.7% 

 Alabama 625,756 13.5% 11.5% 11.9% 

 Alaska 47,935 7.0% 49.6% 5.0% 

 Arizona 820,391 12.9% 36.2% 8.6% 

 Arkansas 397,108 14.0% 10.3% 11.9% 

 California 4,003,593 11.0% 12.1% 8.1% 

 Colorado 492,685 10.1% 25.2% 8.9% 

 Connecticut 472,284 13.5% 0.6% 6.2% 

 Delaware 117,678 13.6% 24.7% 8.6% 

 District of Columbia 69,741 11.9% -5.0% 14.6% 

 Florida 3,098,364 17.0% 14.4% 9.5% 

 Georgia 942,832 9.9% 27.7% 12.2% 

 Hawaii 183,994 14.3% 17.4% 6.5% 

 Idaho 174,946 11.7% 27.8% 8.6% 

 Illinois 1,548,781 12.1% 4.6% 8.6% 

 Indiana 795,441 12.5% 8.4% 7.8% 

 Iowa 438,448 14.7% 2.1% 8.1% 

 Kansas 360,216 13.0% 2.5% 8.7% 

 Kentucky 549,504 13.0% 12.4% 13.1% 

 Louisiana 522,334 12.2% 5.1% 13.1% 

 Maine 194,986 14.8% 12.5% 8.2% 

 Maryland 661,809 11.8% 13.4% 7.8% 

 Massachusetts 858,939 13.3% -0.4% 9.2% 

 Michigan 1,280,152 12.7% 5.4% 8.1% 

 Minnesota 636,216 12.2% 10.1% 8.1% 

 Mississippi 364,614 12.5% 9.5% 14.5% 

 Missouri 788,371 13.4% 6.5% 9.4% 

 Montana 133,578 13.9% 15.0% 8.9% 

 Nebraska 236,648 13.3% 4.0% 8.4% 

 Nevada 285,654 11.1% 48.3% 6.6% 

 New Hampshire 165,742 12.6% 17.2% 6.2% 

 New Jersey 1,134,636 13.1% 2.6% 8.5% 

 New Mexico 250,235 12.7% 29.7% 13.0% 

 New York 2,546,405 13.2% 4.9% 11.8% 

 North Carolina 1,103,413 12.2% 18.9% 11.0% 

 North Dakota 93,285 14.6% 0.8% 14.4% 

 Ohio 1,545,085 13.5% 3.4% 8.1% 

 Oklahoma 480,140 13.3% 8.0% 10.3% 

 Oregon 488,936 13.0% 13.6% 8.6% 

 Pennsylvania 1,889,660 15.2% -0.8% 8.8% 

 Rhode Island 146,847 13.9% -5.9% 9.1% 

 South Carolina 573,098 13.0% 26.3% 12.1% 

 South Dakota 113,555 14.3% 7.9% 10.9% 

 Tennessee 793,117 12.9% 18.4% 11.8% 

 Texas 2,394,157 10.0% 22.2% 12.0% 

 Utah 233,982 8.8% 30.0% 5.3% 

 Vermont 84,425 13.6% 16.9% 7.3% 

 Virginia 909,522 11.8% 20.4% 9.3% 

 Washington 757,852 11.7% 17.1% 7.5% 

 West Virginia 280,666 15.5% 2.3% 10.4% 

 Wisconsin 736,301 13.1% 7.7% 8.3% 

 Wyoming 63,901 12.2% 17.7% 4.6% 

 Puerto Rico 521,983 13.2% -- 43.7% 

(Source: Population data is from Census Bureau 2007 Population Estimates. State level poverty data is from the Census 2007

American Community Survey. National level poverty data is from the 2007 Current Population Survey/American Social and 

Economic Survey.) 
 

 

Income

The median income of older persons in 2007 was $24,323 for males and $14,021 for females. Median 

money income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people did not change in a 

statistically different amount from 2006 to 2007. Households containing families headed by persons 65+ 

reported a median income in 2007 of $41,851 ($43,654 for non-Hispanic Whites, $31,544 for Hispanics, 

$32,025 for African-Americans, and $47,135 for Asians). About one of every fourteen (7.4%) family 

households with an elderly householder had incomes less than $15,000 and 59.5% had incomes of 

$35,000 or more (Figure 7A/7B). 

Figure 7A: Percent Distribution by Income: 2007 (Family Households 65+) 

10 

$41,851 median for 12.5 million family households 65+ 

Figure 7B: Percent Distribution by Income: 2007 (Person 65+ Reporting Income) 

$17,424 median for 35.5 million persons 65+ reporting income 

Persons 65+ Reporting Income

20.0%

13.4%

9.0%

18.4%

12.0%

23.4%

3.8%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Under $5,000

$5,000 - $9,999

$10,000 - $14,999

$15,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $34,999

$35,000 - $49,999

$50,000 and over

Family Households 65+ Householder

18.2%

23.9%

17.4%

17.5%

4.1%

15.6%

3.3%

0.0% 5.0% 10.0% 15.0% 20.0% 25.0% 30.0%

Under $10,000

$10,000 - $14,999

$15,000 - $24,999

$25,000 - $34,999

$35,000 - $49,999

$50,000 - $74,999

$75,000 and over 
11 

For all older persons reporting income in 2007 (35.5 million), 22.3% reported less than $10,000 and 

34.4% reported $25,000 or more. The median income reported was $17,424. 

The major sources of income as reported by older persons in 2006 were Social Security (reported by 89% 

of older persons), income from assets (reported by 55%), private pensions (reported by 29%), 

government employee pensions (reported by 14%), and earnings (reported by 25%). In 2006, Social 

Security benefits accounted for 37% of the aggregate income of the older population. The bulk of the 

remainder consisted of earnings (28%), asset income (15%), and pensions (18%). Social Security 

constituted 90% or more of the income received by 32% of beneficiaries (20% of married couples and 

41% of non-married beneficiaries). 

(Based on data from Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement, "Income, 

Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2007" P60-235, issued August, 2008 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, 2008 Social Security Administration)

Poverty

About 3.6 million elderly persons (9.7%) were below the poverty level in 2007. This poverty rate is a 

statistically significant increase from the poverty rate in 2006 (9.4%). Another 2.4 million or 6.4% of the 

elderly were classified as "near-poor" (income between the poverty level and 125% of this level). 

One of every fourteen (7.4%) elderly Whites** was poor in 2007, compared to 23.2% of elderly AfricanAmericans, 11.3% of Asians, and 17.1% of elderly Hispanics. Higher than average poverty rates were 

found in 2006 for older persons were found among those who lived in principal cities (12.2%), outside 

metropolitan areas (i.e. rural areas and small towns) (10.8%), and in the South (10.8%). 

Older women had a higher poverty rate (12.0%) than older men (6.6%) in 2007. Older persons living 

alone were much more likely to be poor (17.8%) than were older persons living with families (5.6%). The 

highest poverty rates were experienced among Hispanic women (39.5%) who lived alone and also by 

older Black women (39.0%) 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: 2007," P60-235, issued August, 2008, by 

the U.S. Bureau of the Census and related Census detailed tables on the Census Bureau web site) 

Housing

Of the 2.9 million households headed by older persons in 2007, 80% were owners and 20% were renters. 

The median family income of older homeowners was $29,899. The median family income of older renters 

was $15,130. In 2007, 46% of older householders spent more than one-fourth of their income on housing 

costs - 39% for owners and 73% for renters - as compared to 46% of all householders. 

For homes of older householders in 2007, the median construction year was 1969 (it was 1973 for all 

householders) and 4.4% of the homes had physical problems. In 2007, the median value of homes 

owned by older persons was $168,654 (with a median purchase price of $45,191) compared to a median 

home value of $191,471 for all homeowners. About 68% of older homeowners in 2007 owned their 

homes free and clear. 

(Source: "Amer. Housing Survey for the United States: 2007, Current Housing Reports" H150/07)
12 

 

 

Employment 

In 2007, 5.8 million (16.0 %) Americans age 65 and over were in the labor force (working or actively 

seeking work), including 3.2 million men (20.5%) and 2.6 million women (12.6%). They constituted 3.8% 

of the U.S. labor force. About 3.3% were unemployed. Labor force participation of men 65+ decreased 

steadily from 2 of 3 in 1900 to 15.8% in 1985; then stayed at 16%-18% until 2002; and has been 

increasing since then to over 20%. 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, was around 7%-9% from 1986 – 2002. However, beginning in 

2000, labor force participation of older women has been gradually rising to the 2007 level. This increase 

is especially noticeable among the population aged 65-69. 

(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 2007, the percentage who 

had completed high school rose from 28% to 76.1%. About 19.2% in 2007 had a bachelor's degree or 

more. The percentage who had completed high school varied considerably by race and ethnic origin in 

2007: 81.1% of Whites**, 71.7% of Asians and Pacific Islanders, 57.4% of African-Americans, and 42.2% 

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, 2007 and related 

tables on the Census Bureau web site)

Health and Health Care

In 2007, 39.0% of non-institutionalized older persons assessed their heath as excellent or very good 

(compared to 64.8% for persons aged 18-64). There was little difference between the sexes on this 

measure, but African-Americans** (23.7%), older American Indians/Alaska Natives (24.3%) and older 

Hispanics (28.9%) were less likely to rate their health as excellent or very good than were older Whites** 

(40.4%) or older Asians (34.1%)†. Most older persons have at least one chronic condition and many have 

multiple conditions. Among the most frequently occurring conditions older persons in 2004-2005 were: 

hypertension (48%), diagnosed arthritis (47%), all types of heart disease (32%), any cancer (20%), 

diabetes (16%), and sinusitis (14%). 

Almost 67% reported in 2007 that they received an influenza vaccination during the past 12 months and 

58% reported that they had ever received a pneumococcal vaccination. About 25% (of persons 60+) 

report height/weight combinations that place them among the obese. Almost 25% of persons aged 65-74 

and 18% of persons 75+ report that they engage in regular leisure-time physical activity. Only 8% 

reported that they are current smokers and only 5% reported excessive alcohol consumption. Only 2% 

reported that they had experienced psychological distress during the past 30 days. 

In 2006, over 13.1 million persons aged 65 and older were discharged from short stay hospitals. This is a 

rate of 3,508 for every 10,000 persons aged 65+ which is over three times the comparable rate for 

persons of all ages (which was 1,169 per 10,000). The average length of stay for persons aged 65+ was 

5.5 days; 

† These figures are from 2004-2006 data. 
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 2005: 6.5 

office visits for those aged 65-74 and 7.7 office visits for persons over 75 while persons aged 45-65 

averaged only 3.9 office visits during that year. In 2007, over 96% of older persons reported that they did 

have a usual place to go for medical care and only 2.5% said that they failed to obtain needed medical 

care during the previous 12 months due to financial barriers. 

In 2006 older consumers averaged out-of-pocket health care expenditures of $4,631, an increase of 62% 

since 1996. In contrast, the total population spent considerably less, averaging $2,853 in out-of-pocket 

costs. Older Americans spent 12.7% of their total expenditures on health, more than twice the proportion 

spent by all consumers (5.7%). Health costs incurred on average by older consumers in 2006 consisted 

of $2,770 (60%) for insurance, $859 (18%) for drugs, $844 (18.5%) for medical services, and $159 (3%) 

for medical supplies. 

(Sources: Data releases from the web sites of the National Center for Health Statistics (including the 

Health Data Interactive data warehouse, accessed 12/30/2008); from the Agency for Healthcare 

Research and Quality and from the Bureau of Labor Statistics web site) 

Health Insurance Coverage 

In 2007, almost all (93%) 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 58% 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. Only 1% did not have coverage of some kind. About 89% of non-institutionalized

Medicare beneficiaries in 2006 had some type of supplementary coverage. Among Medicare beneficiaries 

residing in nursing homes, about half (52%) were covered by Medicaid. 

Figure 8: Health Insurance Coverage of Persons 65+: 2007 (%) 

Health Insurance Coverage of Persons 65+: 2007 (%)

98.1

57.6

34.1

93.7 93.2

7.1 1.9 8.9

25.9

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

All types coverage

Total private

--employment-based

--direct purchase

Total government

--Medicare

--Medicaid

--Military

Not covered

Note: Figure 8 data is for the non-institutionalized elderly. A person can be represented in 

more than one category. (Source:, "Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United 

States: 2007," P60-235, issued August, 2008, by the U.S. Bureau of the Census. Medicare beneficiary 

data is from the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey) 

13 
 

Disability and Activity Limitations 

Some type of disability (sensory disability, physical disability, or mental disability) was reported by 52% of 

older persons in 2007. Some of these disabilities may be relatively minor but others cause people to 

require assistance to meet important personal needs. Almost 37% of older persons reported in 2005 a 

severe disability and 16% reported that they needed some type of assistance as a result. Reported 

disability increases with age. 56% of persons over 80 reported a severe disability and 29% of the over 80 

population reported that they needed assistance. There is a strong relationship between disability status 

and reported health status. Among those 65+ with a severe disability, 64% reported their health as fair or 

poor. Among the 65+ persons who reported no disability, only 10 % 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% 

of community-resident Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 in 2006 had difficulty in performing one or 

more ADLs and an additional 12.5% reported difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). 

By contrast, 91% of institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries had difficulties with one or more ADLs and 

73.4% 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, the rate of limitations on activities among persons 85 and older are much 

higher than those for persons 65-74. 

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

Group: 2006 

Percent of Persons with Limitations in Activities of Daily 

Living by Age Group: 2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Type of ADL

Bathing/Showering

Dressing

Eating

Getting in/out of bed/chairs

Walking

Using toilet

65-74

75-84

85 years and over

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 postacute 

care, about 1.3 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: Americans with Disabilities: 2005, December 2008, P70-117 and other Internet releases of 

the Census Bureau, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and the National Center on Health 

Statistics, including the NCHS Health Data Interactive data warehouse) 

14 
 

 

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 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, 1999)

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. 

A Profile of Older Americans: 2008 was developed 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 2008 

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 administered by 56 State and Territorial 

Units on Aging, 632 Area Agencies on Aging, 244 Native American and Hawaiian organizations, and 

more than 18,000 local service providers. 

 

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