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THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH IN AGING
PROFILE OF OLDER AMERICANS
May 2013
THE FUTURE GROWTH OF THE OLDER POPULATION
 The 65+ population has increased from 35 million in
2000 to 41.4 million in 2011 and is projected to
increase to 79.7 million in 2040.
 People 65 and older represented 13.3% of the
population in 2011 but are expected to grow to
19.3% by 2030.
 The 85+ population is projected to increase from 5.7
million in 2011 to 14.1 million in 2040.
RACIAL AND ETHNIC COMPOSITION
 Minority populations have increased from 5.7 million in 2000 to 8.5 million in 2011 (21% of elders)
and is projected to increase to 20.2 million in 2030 (28% of the elderly).
 In 2011, 21% of persons 65+ were minorities (9% African-Americans, 7% persons of Hispanic origin,
4% Asian or Pacific Islander, and less than 1% American Indian or Native Alaskan).
 Between 2012 and 2030, the white population 65+ is projected to increase by 54% compared with
125% of other older minorities including: Hispanics (155%), African-Americans (104%), American
Indians, Eskimos, and Aleuts (116%), and Asians and Pacific Islanders (119%).
GENERAL HEALTH
 In 2012, 44% of non-institutionalized older persons rated their heath as excellent or very good.
 Older African-Americans, older American Indians/Alaska Natives and older Hispanics were less likely
to rate their health as excellent or very good than were older Whites or older Asians.
 The most frequently occurring chronic conditions among older persons in 2009-2011 were:
hypertension (high blood pressure or taking antihypertensive) (72% in 2007-2010), diagnosed
arthritis (51%), all types of heart disease (31%), any cancer (24%) and diabetes (20%).
 About 28% of older persons reported height/weight combinations that classified them as obese;
9.5% reported that they are current smokers; and 5% reported excessive alcohol consumption.
 Almost 35% of persons aged 65-74 and 24% of persons 75+ reported that they engage in regular
physical activity.
HOSPITAL VISITS AND HEALTH CARE COSTS
 The average length of stay for people ages 65-74 was 5.4 days; for ages 75-84 it was 5.7 days; and
for ages 85 and over it was 5.6 days. The average stay for people has decreased by 5 days since
1980.
 In 2011, older persons averaged more office visits with doctors: 21% of older adults aged 75 and
over had 10 or more visits to a doctor or other health care provider in the past 12 months in
comparison to 14% of people ages 45 to 64.
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Older Americans spent 12.2% of their
total expenditures on health, almost
twice the proportion spent by all
consumers (6.7%).
Average health costs incurred by
older consumers in 2011 consisted of
$3,074 (64%) for insurance, $786
(16%) for medical services, $714
(15%) for drugs, and $193 (4.0%) for
medical supplies.
HEALTH INSURANCE
 In 2011, 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.
 Among other sources of coverage, 58% had private health insurance; over 9% had military-based
health insurance; and 9% of the non-institutionalized elderly were covered by Medicaid. Less than
2% did not have coverage of some kind.
 Approximately 86% of non-institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries in 2009 had some type of
supplementary coverage.
 Among Medicare beneficiaries residing in nursing homes, about half were covered by Medicaid.
DISABILITY AND ACTIVITY LIMITATIONS
 In 2011, 35% of older persons
reported some type of disability, many
of whom needed some type of
assistance as a result.
 The most frequently reported
limitation across the aging spectrum is
walking.
 Reported disability increases with age.
SOURCE: The data reported in this document were retrieved from the Administration on Aging’s 2012
issue of A Profile of Older Americans.
th
40 Fulton Street ● 18 Floor ● New York, NY 10038 ● 212-308-1414
www.americangeriatrics.org ● www.healthinaging.org