It is no news by now that America is aging. As America approaches the new millennium, the numbers of elderly — persons age 65 and older — will explode. This significant change in demographics is sure to affect local governments and the numerous direct services they provide to the 65+ population.
In 1995, approximately one in eight Americans, or 33.5 million persons, were age 65 or older. Not too far into the future, the growth of this segment of the population will become rapid.
According to Census Bureau projections, the elderly population will more than double to 80 million between now and the year 2050. By the middle of the next century, as many as one in five Americans could be elderly, and the greatest growth spurt of the 65+ population will occur between 2010 and 2030. This is when the baby boom generation enters its elderly years.
Many counties have already reached these thresholds, however. In nearly 400 counties, one in five residents were already 65 or older in 1995.
The fastest growing segment of our country’s population is the oldest seniors. The Census Bureau projects that the “oldest old” will number 19 million in 2050, making them 24 percent of elderly Americans and five percent of all Americans.
Not surprisingly, the nation’s most populous states are also the states with the largest number of elderly residents.
In 1995, nine states — California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey — had more than one million elderly. More than 17.6 million persons age 65 and over resided in these states alone.
In general, counties with the largest number of elderly are also in these nine states. However, rankings of the top 25 counties with high numbers of elderly revealed four exceptions — Maricopa County, Ariz.; Middlesex County, Mass.; King County, Wash.; and St. Louis County, Mo.
A major surprise is New York, N.Y., a consolidated city/county that ranks second in highest total population, but 16th in highest elderly population. In 1995, New York City/County’s elderly population was only 2.7 percent of its total population. Not unsurprisingly, Los Angeles County, Calif., with the greatest total population, is also the county with the greatest number of elderly — one million elderly Americans live here.
The top 50 senior-saturated counties represent 15 states from North Carolina to Oregon, and many in between, including Virginia, Georgia, Arkansas, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada. Edwards County, Texas led the way with 50.2 percent of its total population age 65 or older.
Four counties — Edwards County, Texas; Denali Borough, Alaska; Yakutat Borough, Alaska; and Nye County, Nev. — all had a 120+ percent increase in elderly residents from 1990 to 1995. Many other counties had significantly high increases in this five-year period.
To meet the growing demands of its seniors, Edwards County, Texas (pop. 3,000) just recently opened its first-ever senior center, and is currently providing nutritional services to 60 seniors each day.
“They’re getting a great benefit from it,” said Edwards County Judge Nevil G. Smart, Jr. “We never ever had a program or support services before,” said Smart, “But we’re leaning more that way all the time.”
For Edwards County, the nutritional program is just a first step.
In 1997, the county plans to purchase a van to deliver meals to homebound seniors. County leaders are addressing their rapidly increasing elderly population one step at a time.
“We don’t have any long-range plans specific for the elderly,” said Smart. “We haven’t planned ahead. We’re just like any other small place with budget problems.”
(For additional aging demographics or to find out the latest 65+ population information for your county, contact Kelly Schulman at 202/942-4246.)