AGING IN OREGON Understanding Long Term Care Services for the Older Adult Module 1 – Demographics and Definitions

Some National Demographics  The older population, persons 65 years or older, represents 12.9% of the U.S. population but are expected to grow to be 19% of the population by  By 2030, there will be about 72.1 million older persons, more than twice their number in  People 65+ represented 12.4% of the population in the year 2000  The 85+ population is projected to increase from 4.2 million in 2000 to 5.7 million in 2010 (a 36% increase).

National Demographics (cont.)  Persons reaching age 65 have an average life expectancy of an additional 18.6 years.(variation by gender and race.)  Older women outnumber older men at 22.4 million older women to 16.5 million older men.  Older men were much more likely to be married than older women--72% of men vs. 42% of women.  About 31% (11.2 million) of non-institutionalized older persons live alone (8.3 million women, 2.9 million men).

The emerging older adult population boom in Oregon…..  The first members of the baby boom generation—those born between 1946 and1964—began turning 60 years old in 2006 and this population will increase rapidly during the next several decades. By 2020, one in five Oregonians will be 60 years and older and projections indicate that one in four residents will be 60 years and older by  In 2010, 76,000 individuals will be 85 and older, and by 2030, nearly 120,000 will be 85 or older, a 57 percent increase. About 25 percent of older Oregonians need help with activities of daily living, either from family members or paid caregivers, and 20 percent need help with four or more activities of daily living.

Why should we, as nurses and nursing students, be interested in older adults?  Oregon’s population of older adults will increase dramatically over the next five years and thereafter, which means that the number of older adults with chronic conditions (such as arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, depression, and stroke) will also rise.  Arthritis, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol each afflict approximately 50 percent of people 60 to 74 years old, and percentages for the first two conditions increase for those 75 years and older.

More…  Less than 50 percent of people 75 years and older meet recommended requirements for physical activity, and this cohort is hospitalized for falls at almost five times the rate of those 60 to 74 years old.  Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data reveal that almost 75 percent of Oregonians years old do not eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day and only 30 percent have a healthy body mass index.

What can we do?  A growing body of scientific evidence attests to the efficacy of primary and secondary prevention measures.  Regular physical activity decreases the risk of developing chronic conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, guards against weight gain, prevents falls, and enhances emotional well-being.  The benefits to both physical and emotional health from eating a balanced diet and remaining engaged in community life as one ages have been documented extensively.  Screening for disease and educating older adults about managing chronic conditions are crucial to maintaining health and vitality. Oregon data from:

Aging in America To learn more about aging in America, watch this youtube called “The Many Faces of Aging in America” from the National Council on Aging.“The Many Faces of Aging in America” In these two (one, two) youtube presentations, clips from agewave.com, Ken Dychtwald PhD, shares his perspective on aging.onetwo