Silver Book

Silver Book Fact

How People Age 65+ Rate Their Own Health: 2012-2014

“During the period 2012–2014, 78 percent of people age 65 and over rated their health as good, very good, or excellent. The levels of health reported by older men and older women were similar.”

Older Americans 2016: Key indicators of well-being. Washington, DC: Federal Inter-Agency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics; 2016:30. https://agingstats.gov/docs/LatestReport/OA2016.pdf. Accessed December 21, 2016

Reference

Title
Older Americans 2016: Key indicators of well-being
Publication
Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics
Publisher
Federal Inter-Agency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics
Publication Date
2016
Pages
30
URL
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Connected Facts

Aging Nation

Disability Increases with Age

Disability increases with age. In 2014, 42 percent of people age 85 and over reported any disability, compared with 17 percent of people ages 65–74. People age 85 and over also had higher levels of disability than people ages 65–74 in all the individual domains of functioning.

Age - A Major Risk Factor, Today's Older Population
Non-Hispanic Blacks 65+ More Likely to Report Disability

“Non-Hispanic Blacks age 65 and over were more likely to report having any disability than non-Hispanic Whites (26 percent compared with 21 percent).”

Aging Nation

Female life expectancy differences at 65 & 85

At age 65, women can expect to live 2.5 years longer. At age 85, women can expect to live 1.1 years longer.

Life Expectancy

Aging Nation

1999-2014 death rates for all causes of death among 65+

“Between 1999 and 2014, age-adjusted death rates for all causes of death among people age 65 and over declined by 20 percent.”

Age - A Major Risk Factor, Life Expectancy

Related Facts

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    By 2030, 19 percent of the U.S. population will be a part of the older population.  
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    By 2010, the 65 and older population is projected to be over 40 million. The 75 and older population is projected to be close to 19 million.  
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    The oldest age group is expected to grow from 5.8 million in 2010 to 19 million in 2050.  
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    The number of Americans ages 45-64, who will reach 65 over the next two decades, increased by 26% from 1999 to 2009.