General Characteristics

Some general characteristics of the aging population in U.S. society are (Eliopolous, 2001):

• The elderly make up 12% of the U.S. population but this percentage is growing rapidly as the 'baby boomers' age;
• Women outnumber men and are more likely to have lost their spouses than have their male counterparts; women also tend to be in lower income groups;
• The elderly are an increasingly diverse group culturally;
• Many elders have financial problems (15% live below the poverty level but many more experience economic struggles);
• Education level of elders is, in general, less than that of their younger cohort;
• Most elderly have at least one chronic disease;
• Elder hospitalizations, surgeries, and physician visits are more frequent than those of persons under 65 years; this care is more likely to be paid for by governmental agencies; and
• The elderly experience transportation problems that can interfere with access to care.