This will represent a larger proportion of the population as well. Significantly there will be a change in the sociodemographic makeup of older adults. There will be a shift from whites to Hispanics in the general population and this will be reflected in the elder population as well. Women are a majority of elders. Older Hispanic women have lower median incomes.
Older people are more prone to chronic diseases.
Lower socioeconomic status seniors are at risk for poor health and are less likely to have health insurance, depending on government coverage. This could lead to increased pressures on society to support the growing elderly and ill population. However, the authors report that there are factors that can reverse poor health in older people. Studies have shown that physical activity and social interaction result in better health for all, including seniors. Even those who had been sedentary and then changed to moderate exercise benefited.