Health Literacy: Helping Your Patients Understand and Ethical Dilemmas in Geriatric Care

Population Change in Texas Counties, Source: Texas State Data Center

Population Change in Texas Counties, Source: Texas State Data Center

Population Change in Texas Counties, Source: Prepared from U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2006 County Estimates by the Texas State Data Center, The University of Texas at San Antonio

* Projections are shown for the 1.0 Scenario

Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Current Population Survey (CPS), 2004 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Percent

 Over 2.7 million Texans are age 60 or older.  Older Texans are relatively young; an estimated 66 percent of the older population is younger than 75.  The female population outnumbers the male population; there are about 76 males for every 100 females. Disparity between men and women increases with age. The Black older adult population has the greatest gender disparity, with an estimated 60 males for every 100 females.  Older Texans are predominately Anglo (72%), followed by Hispanics (18%), and Blacks (9%).

 Approximately 50 percent of the 60-plus population reside in three major areas of the state: San Antonio area, Houston-Galveston region, and the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.  The proportional distribution of older adults tends to be highest in non-metropolitan regions.  Although rural counties make up 80 percent of all Texas counties, they account for only 25 percent of the older adult population.

 The 60-plus population will itself grow older. In 2000, the 85-plus population totaled over 237,000; by 2040, this population is projected to reach about 831,000, a percent increase.  The disparity between males and females is projected to decrease; males accounted for 44 percent of the aged population in 2000, this percentage is projected to increase to 47 percent in  Minority populations are growing rapidly; by 2040, they will constitute almost half of all older Texans, with Hispanics comprising 31 percent.

 Texans 60-plus are projected to total 8.1 million by 2040, a 193 percent increase from By 2040, the 60-plus population is projected to comprise 23 percent of the total Texas population.

* Assuming rates of migration equal to

2000 Total Pop 65 & Older Percentage 2006 Total Pop 65 & Older Percentage 2006 Total Pop 65 & Older Percentage

The aging of the Texas population will have profound implications for individuals, families, and society. However, much work still remains. The changing size and increasingly diverse client population groups will have substantial implications in the demand for services and goods in both the public and private sectors.