America turns 234 years old on Independence Day this Sunday. While being over 200 years old is young for a country, the population of aging Americans is increasing daily. Someone turns 50 years of age every six seconds, and those over 50 account for 43 percent of all U.S. households.
Most surprising about today’s senior population is the broad range of ages and lifestyles it encompasses. Ages range from 50 to over 100. The people of this age range have seen America through the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, and the current digital age. Both parents and children are now part of the senior population.
As evidenced by the statistics below, the senior population shows no signs of slowing down.
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The over-85 age group is the fasting-growing segment of the population.
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1 baby boomer retires every 7.4 seconds.
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By 2014, the youngest baby boomers will be 50 years of age and the oldest will be 68.
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By 2020,
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One of six Americans will be 65 or older.
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The senior population will account for 115 million Americans.
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12 million senior Americans will need long-term care.
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By 2021, the oldest baby boomers will turn 75.
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Currently, 55 million people in the U.S. are over age 55 and 34 million are over age 65. That figure will double by 2030.
The U.S. veteran population is also seeing the impact of aging.
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We are losing World War II veterans at the rate of approximately 1,000 per day.
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39.9% of veterans are 65 years or older.
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Veterans of Vietnam and the Korean Conflict will reach ages 65 to 84 between 2010 and 2015.
The diversity of the aging U.S. population is beyond definition. Their lives were shaped by the past 80+ years of America’s history. As the Fourth of July approaches, we reflect on the incredible history of the United States and the courage of brave soldiers and American citizens. The aging population’s influence on the future of America is unparalleled and will impact future generations for years to come.
Happy 4th of July!
(Sources: HonorFlight.org, Boomeronline.com, The Center for Mature Consumer Studies, and The Roper Organization for Modern Maturity Magazine)