Public Information Office                               Vicky Cahan
U.S. Census Bureau                                 Public Information: 2000 Census
Office 301-457-3030/301-457-3670
National Institute on Aging 301-457-1037 (TDD)
         301-496-1752 e-mail: pio@census.gov
   e-mail: cahanv@nia.nih.gov

Victoria Velkoff/Kevin Kinsella
301-457-1371 
  
                     World's Older Population Growing
                     by Unprecedented 800,000 a Month

The world's population age 65 and older is growing by an unprecedented 800,000 people a month, according to a report issued today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Institute on Aging (NIA).

   The report, An Aging World: 2001, predicted that this phenomenon
of global aging will continue well into the 21st century, with the numbers and proportions of older people continuing to rise in both developed and developing worlds.

   The pace of population aging, the report found, varies widely among countries. Generally, developing countries are aging faster than more developed ones. Demographers estimated that more than three-
quarters of the world's net gain of older people from 1999 to 2000
occurred in still-developing countries.

   The ratio of older people to total population differs widely among countries, too. The United States was 32nd on a list ranking countries with high proportions of people age 65 and older.

Italy replaced Sweden as the world's oldest country in 2000, with 18 percent of Italians having celebrated at least a 65th birthday, the report said.

"Global aging is occurring at a rate never seen before and we will need to pay close attention to how countries respond to the challenges and opportunities of growing older," said Nancy Gordon, the Census Bureau's associate director for demographic programs. "In the United States, one of the comparatively younger developed countries, with 13 percent of its people age 65 and older, we may be able to learn from the experience of 'older' countries."

"Population aging is a fundamental transformation of human society," said Richard M. Suzman, associate director of the NIA, Behavioral and Social Research Program. "Many governments and international agencies, as well as demographic researchers, have only recently begun to pay attention to this increasingly important trend."

Generally, populations begin to age when fertility declines and adult mortality improves. Of the countries covered in this report, Japan had the highest average life expectancy at birth ? 81 years, followed by Singapore (80) and several other developed countries:
Australia, Canada, Italy, Iceland, Sweden and Switzerland (79).
Levels for the United States and most other developed countries fall in the 76- to 78-year range.

An Aging World: 2001 is part of ongoing efforts by the Census Bureau and the NIA to study aging in the United States and the world. Prepared by Victoria Velkoff  and Kevin Kinsella of the Census Bureau, it looks at current and projected population in countries throughout the world and includes comparative data on life expectancy, health status, social support and retirement.

Other report highlights: 
--  Of the 227 countries or areas of the world with at least 5,000  population, 167 (74 percent) had some form of an old-age disability or survivors' program in the late 1990s, compared with 33 in 1940.

--  In the mid 1990s, public pensions absorbed 15 percent of the gross domestic product in Italy and Uruguay; 7.2 percent in the United States and 0.4 percent in Mexico.

-- Disability rates among the older population were declining in developed countries but were likely to increase in developing countries.

--  Older people in the United States were more educated than in most other countries, but educational attainment of the older population was projected to increase in most countries over the next several decades.

--  In many countries, the oldest old (85 and above) were the fastest-growing component of the population.

--  More than one-third of the world's oldest people (85 and above) lived in three countries: China (11.5 million), the United States (9.2 million) and India (6.2 million).

-- Among developing regions, the Caribbean had the highest percentage of older people  (7.2 percent).

-- There were more older women than older men in the vast majority of the world's countries; notable exceptions were India, Iran and Bangladesh.

   Suzman noted that the Census Bureau/NIA report comes amid new
recommendations for international research on world aging by a panel
of the National Academy of Sciences. The   NIA-supported review,
reported in Preparing for An Aging World: The Case for Cross-National
Research, found that an international focus would be a powerful tool
for policy-makers worldwide, offering a broader approach to
understanding population aging than single-nation research alone. The
Academy's report urged countries to develop comparable data on their
own aging populations.

                                   -X-

Editor's note: The embargoed data can be accessed at
<http://www.census.gov/dcmd/www/embargo/embargo.html. Call the
Public Information Office to obtain access information. After the release
time, go to http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p95-01-1.pdf
 

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Older individuals are "not all alike," but each have an uniqueness to be celebrated. The impact that the changing environment has on them is perceived differently by these individuals and their coping skills vary in response to those trials. Luckily, many have had considerable practice at handling change and have a perseverance that carries them through; but not all can handle unexpected "newness" that is not within their power to control. Perhaps society needs to take notice of changes and how our older friends adjust to them.

The elderly do not live their lives in isolation apart from society and the changes in culture. They are impacted by the response of the Government towards them, by the attitudes and actions of their relatives and friends and by the environment they live in (just to name a few!). By the end of this course, you should be sensitive to these and other influences that impact upon our older population. You should also recognize the considerable impact that the older generations have on society.

Society responds to both the aged individual and to groups of aged people. Older individuals as well as groups of older people also respond to society. This reciprocity is one of the "machines of social change." Throughout your reading please take note of this concept.

Some older people do not "act their age" with respect to society's "social clock." The increasing number of these type of people is, in itself, challenging the old stereotypes on aging. It seems appropriate at this time to remind the reader that:

Grandma Moses BEGAN painting at 78 and continued until her death at age 100.

George Bernard Shaw wrote his last play at 93.

Eamon de Valera was the president of Ireland at 91.

Pablo Picasso was still producing art at age 90.

Albert Schweitzer was directing an African hospital at 89.

Konrad Adenauer was Germany's Chancellor at 88.

Winston Churchill finished his history text at 82.

Leo Tolstoy was still writing novels at 82.

Benjamin Franklin helped establish the Constitution at 81.

George Burns, still alive at this writing, won his first Academy Award at 80.

Does advanced age mean the individual has nothing to give to society? No, as these examples suggest. It is important that you keep in mind the hetrogeniety of the older population. While it is true that some are mentally impaired and some physically impaired, it is also true that many seniors have adequate health to be of significant consequence in society. As the aging of our population continues to increase, it is quite likely that the contributions of seniors will increase.

Our society responds to the influence and needs of its members in informal ways (like folkways of "act your age") as well as in formal ways (like policies directed to the health, welfare, protection or taxation of specified groups). With respect to the older members of society, it has been said that few, if any, social policies in the past have been written as a result of a request of the elderly, but they have been written sporadically by congressmen who have had parents in need of help, so they "woke up to a problem" and responded on a personal interest level. Why has this been so? The 16% of the older population is not one voice but many varied opinions, so the elderly do not bring a cohesive message to congress nor do they represent a voting block.

As the population "grays" it may be that the voice of the elderly, even though varied, may be noticed more. More elderly means more people who may face similar circumstances and thus there may be, from time to time, a "voice" heard from them that congress can not tune out. Elderly social policy may become more and more the province of the elderly as the average age of our population increases throughout the early part of the 21st century. With that in mind, understanding what policy is and how it comes about is important. (See History of Social Policy file).

Many more people are living to older ages than ever before. This is an increase in "life expectancy." Even in Utah, the fastest growing segment of the population are those OVER 85 years of age! This means that the country is "getting older," as the average age of the citizenry is in the mid-thirties right now.

In the United States, the average family now has 1.8 children (in Utah we have 2.1 children). In times passed, their were more children born to parents so the age demographics could be pictured like a pyramid (more at the base--young people--, fewer at the top --old people). The pyramid is "squaring" and fewer persons are on the bottom to produce the surplus for the retirement of the top.

This changing demographic picture is especially seen in Social Security data. In 1935 when it began, there were 16 workers for every 1 retiree. That has changed to 4 workers to retiree in 1990, soon to 2 workers to one retiree at the turn of the century, and it may be inverted (more retirees than workers) by 2020. The question of the viability of the Social Security System is a serious one.

Are resources sufficient to cover all groups in our society?

According to the Utah Human Services Coalition (1992), within one year 51,000 children in Utah are hungry, 4,635 children are homeless in Utah, 35,000 Utah families live in poverty, 170,000 Utahns are disabled and 200,000 Utahns have no health insurance. If you live outside of Utah, your statistics are probably quite similar when you compare per capita numbers. Can we continue to provide for the elderly in the manner we have in the recent past?

According to the US House, Select Committee on Aging (1979), non-institutionalized elders had the following types of chronic illness:

Arthritis 44.3%

Heart Disease 27.4

Hypertension 39.0

Hearing Impairments 28.2

Vision Impairments 12.0

Arteriosclerosis 12.0

Diabetes 8.0

Even with these conditions, most people feel that they are able to do most of what they wish to do and need little help. However, with the aging of America, these conditions may become more of a serious social problem due to shear prevalence.

Another social problem is found in the economics of the older population. According to a mid '80s study by the Department of Health and human Services:

For every 100 persons starting their careers, by age 65:

29 have died

13 have annual incomes below poverty level of $4,000

55 have annual incomes between $4,000 and $26,000 (median on this group is $6,100)

3 have annual incomes over $26,000

According to the U.S. Department of Commerce:

--Less than 5% of households older than 65 are financially independent.

--95% of persons older than 65 must rely on

outside sources such as...

--45% of retirees are dependant on relatives for some or all of their support

--30% count on Social Security to supplement them

--20% must continue some employment

Income sources of all Elderly (according to Social Security Administration):

38% Comes from Social Security Benefits

26% Comes from assets (Investments)

17% Comes from earnings (work)

16% Comes from pensions (employer)

2% "Other"

1% Comes from Public Assistance (Welfare)

According to AARP's Action for Independent Maturity, the "average" couple living in a city on a "moderate" living standard spend their money (after taxes) on:

35% housing 26% food

9% transportation 9% clothing & personal care

8% medical care 7% "other" family expenses

6% gifts and contributions

These statistics suggest that the financial status of most of our elderly population simply needs continued government support with no known trend to change the situation in the future. This is especially true with regards to health care.

Medicare provides only basic health insurance coverage. Fewer Doctors and other medical providers accept Medicare payments as full payment for services. Medicare also defines what are "allowable charges" for "medical services" after the deductibles are applied. Medicare's definition of "medical" includes only conditions in which a patient can be "rehabilitated;" thus illnesses such as Alzheimer Disease are often NOT covered under the Medicare definition. Most insurance coverages that are added to Medicare ALSO use the Medicare definitions. This leaves no coverage from Medicare or from private insurance for many conditions.

The Health Insurance Association of America indicates that as many as 43% of those over 65 may need to enter a nursing home. The average patient's length of stay is 408 days, with:

26% staying over 12 months

22% staying 3 to 12 months

21% staying 1 to 3 months

31% staying a month or less

Nursing Home care represents the largest single health care expenditure for senior citizens, but is the area with the least insurance coverage. In 1981, for example, Medicaid paid approximately $13 billion for nursing home care, but patients still had to pay approximately $10 billion out of pocket! Furthermore, several studies indicate that almost two-thirds of private patients reach the "spend down" levels required by Medicaid within six months of entering a nursing home. In other words, assets accumulated over a lifetime are often wiped out in a relatively short period of time.

While Social Security death and disability benefits should be filed for immediately upon the event, retirement benefits must be filed for "within 3 months of retirement".

Since Social Security pays into Medicare (which is handled by the Health Care Financing Administration) for each beneficiary who signs up, the "window" to sign up with Medicare is 3 months before age 65 through 4 months after. It does not matter if a person is actually taking Social Security or not. A penalty follows those who sign up for Medicare "late" due to the loss to that program of the premium that Social Security would have been paying to Medicare had the beneficiary signed up "on time."

About 17% of the income received by those over 65 comes from employment earnings, according to the Social Security Administration.

According to "Modern Maturity" (Dec 1988), those who responded to their questionnaire about a "second career" after retirement (median age: 60) said that:

67% had "no problems" with their work

15% found some "age discrimination " at work

13% had trouble finding work

9% found problems with the pay they received

7% found problems with Social Security earning limitations

13% had "other" misc. problems

They also reported that:

53% of those responding worked FULL time in the new work

40% worked less than 35 hours per week

7% worked "part of the year"

In general, the retirement income that is received by retired persons (beyond family help) comes from three basic sources:

Savings/Investments --Employer programs --Government

Most individuals will receive benefits from one or more sources. Typically the more sources, the more life satisfying retirement or "golden years" can be. The opposite is also true--the fewer the sources, the less security and the less the opportunities. In later sections, specifics will be given about social security and other programs.

Interestingly enough, many retirees find more closeness to their grandchildren than their children, and yet more closeness to good friends than members of their families. An increased closeness is often noticed towards living siblings, even if many years without contact has passed.

As with other aspects of aging, that of "grandparenting" is complex and ever-changing. Each individual views grandparenting differently, but some of the typical problems that may come up are:

1-Disagreements with the grandchild's parent(s)

2-Divorce of the grandchild's parents

3-Disagreements with the other set(s) of grandparents

4-Distances separating you and the grandchildren

5-Being told that your advice is unwanted

6-Resentments from grandchild's parents

However, grandchildren can provide to grandparents some very important things:

1-Emotional support and attachment

2-A feeling of being able to care for others, and being cared for. An Identity that may have been lost.

3-An opportunity to pass along family treasures: in heirlooms, in wisdom and family memories.

4-Interaction with youth, to "keep one young."

5-Activities that are mutually beneficial

Caring for elderly parents is a decision most people make without being aware of the total commitment that is necessary, and the sacrifices that may be required. These sacrifices may include financial assets, time and disruption of daily routines. These sacrifices affect not only the caregiver, but the family as well.

Hayes (1984) identified four major stresses faced by caregivers. They include 1) feelings of isolation, and being forced by other family members to accept the caregiving responsibility;

2) changing of family roles and disruption of family routines;

3) lack of ability to make a distinction between caring for and curing the elderly person; and

4) feelings of helplessness at not being able to help improve the elderly person's health.

The term "Sandwich Generation", refers to adults who take on the responsibility of caring for aging parents, and find themselves 'sandwiched' between their parents and their children, with the diverse needs of both becoming a burden to the caregiver.

Many of these caregivers report some conflict between their work and caregiving responsibilities.

A study by Stone, Cafferata, and Sangl in 1987 provides some insight into the average caregiver. They found that:

* The majority of caregivers are women (75%), with an average age of 57.3 years.

* 25% of caregivers is age 65 to 74 years, and 10% are 75 or over.

A Delaware study reported that the average number of years of caregiving is 9.5 years. (Newsweek, september 23, 1985)