elderly (senior citizen)

Introduction

In reference to individuals over 65 years of age.

Also see related disorder in the elderly

Epidemiology

Demographics: (1998)

• 40 million persons (13% of the population) >= 65 years (2010)
• number of persons > 65 years expected to double by 2050 from 40 million to 89 million
• between 2010 & 2050, the population of hispanic elderly is projected to increase faster than any other ethnic group, from 3 million to 18 million
• 33% of community-dwelling elderly live alone (1998)
  • % increases with age
• women are more likely to live alone than men
  • 55-60% of women over 85 live alone compared to 28% of men
• 22% of elderly women > 85 live in nursing home
• median income of persons > 65 is $31,568
  • younger, married whites tend to have highest income
  • unmarried hispanic women have lowest income
• ethnic variability in median income
  • $32,398 for white Americans
  • $22,102 for black Americans
  • $21,935 for Hispanic Americans
• 10% of elderly lived below poverty line (1998)
  • % higher for blacks (26%) & hispanics (21%)
• 75% of older men are married; 43% of older women are married
  • in persons > 85 years of age, 51% of men are married compared with 14% of women
• women are 4 times more likely to be widowed than men
• 67% of persons age 60-70 years had high school diploma
• relative to their predecessors, elderly today are
  • better educated
  • better of financially
  • less functionally impaired
  • increasingly live alone or in alternative residential settings

Notes

• independence & quality of life are closely associated with being able to walk & drive a car
• hospitalization is a harbinger of disability among community- dwelling elders

Additional terms

• age-related physiological changes
• aging
• geriatrics
• gerontology