For the last twenty years, the month of September has been recognized as Healthy Aging Month, an annual occurrence to raise awareness about the positive aspects of growing older. Healthy aging can be promoted by nutritious eating and exercise, practicing optimism, and staying involved in social activities. Lifestyles should be changed, if needed, by adding more physical activity and consuming more nutrients. However, healthy aging is more than just physical wellness; it also includes a healthy mental, social, and financial state. It’s never too late to find a new career, a new sport, passion, hobby, or to work on your health issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines healthy aging as the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age. Functional ability is about having the capabilities that allow everyone to be and do whatever they value.
Use September as the motivation to take stock of past experiences and what is wanted in the years to come. Attention needs to be addressed as to the myths of aging; there is no rule that says what was studied in school has to remain to be one’s career forever. Start a home business, choose an athletic goal, or do something wildly different from anything ever done before. This time of year is when thought is given on starting something new after the summer months. Renew goals and seek positive measures that can impact all areas of physical, social, financial, spiritual, and mental wellness. It is not too late to take control of one’s health, and it’s never too late to get started on something new. Exercise and getting annual check-ups are both tried and true methods of staying healthy. Socialization within a church group, a volunteer organization or with friends and family are important as well.
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), serves as an advocate for older adults within the federal government. They have compiled data in an effort to show the changing landscape of the American population.
AoA reports that over the past 10 years, the population age 65 and older increased 35% from 38.8 million in 2008 to 52.4 million in 2018 (representative of 16% of the population) and it is projected to reach 94.7 million in 2060. A larger percentage of older men (69%) were married as compared to older women (47%). In 2019, about 28% of older persons lived alone (5 million men, 9.7 million women).
The number of Americans age 45-64 (those whom will reach age 65 during the next two decades) increased 7% between 2008 and 2018. In 2018, more than one in every seven Americans is considered an older adult in that age range. There were 93,927 persons aged 100 and older in that same year (0.2% of the total age 65 and older population), almost triple the figure that was in 1980. In 2018, older women outnumber older men at 29.1 million older women to 23.3 million older men; 3.7 million persons celebrated their 65th birthdays as well.
In 2018, persons reaching age 65 had an average life expectancy of an additional 19.5 years (20.7 years for women and 18.1 years for men). A child born in 2018 could expect to live 78.7 years, more than 30 years longer than a child born in 1900 (47.3 years).
In 2018, nearly 1 in 10 older adults or 9.7% lived below the poverty level; the median income of older persons was $34,267 for men and $20,431 for women. The real median income (after adjusting for inflation) of all households headed by older people increased by 3.3% (which was statistically significant) between 2017 and 2018. Households containing families headed by persons age 65 and older reported a median income in 2018 of $64,023.
The need for caregiving increases with age. In 2018, the percentage of older adults age 85 and older who needed help with personal care (21%) was more than twice the percentage for adults ages 75–84 (8%) and five times the percentage for adults ages 65–74 (4%). The 85 and older population is projected to more than double from 6.5 million in 2018 to 14.4 million in 2040 (a 123% increase).
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. But the older population is beginning to grow again as more than one-third (36%) of the “baby boom” generation has reached the age of 65 and older. However, the attention is no longer just on the baby boomers; the Generation “Xer’s” are gaining in numbers.
Staying active and vibrant as long as possible is the ultimate goal, and is the best gift to oneself. Staying physically and mentally active, as well as and nurturing social connections with friends and family are all part of the bigger picture in keeping the mind and body well.
