National health spending for 2010 was estimated at $2.6 trillion.

The health share of GDP is projected to increase from 17.6% in 2009 to 19.8% by 2020.

National health spending is projected to grow 5.8% per year from 2010 through 2020.

Around 3.7 million (11%) of older Medicare enrollees received personal care from a paid or unpaid source in 1999. 

Around 1.3 million elderly Americans are currently in nursing homes (around half are age 85 and older).

In 2007, more than 25% of community-resident Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 had difficulty in performing one or more activities of daily living.  An additional 4.6% reported difficulties with instrumental activities of daily living. 

Of institutionalized Medicare beneficiaries, 83% had difficulties with one or more ADL and 67% had difficulty with three or more ADLs. 

Of the 65+ Americans who reported a severe disability in 2009, 64% reported their health as fair or poor.  Among those who reported no disability, only 10% reported their health as fair or poor.

In 2009, 37% of older Americans reported some type of disability (i.e. difficulty in hearing, vision, cognition, ambulation, self-care, or independent living).  56% of people over 80 reported a severe disability and 29% reported that they needed assistance.