Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Graying of America retires some old stereotypes Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 15:13:22 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Graying of America retires some old stereotypes \BY David Alan Coia \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES The United States is fast becoming a nation of four-generation families, with millions of Americans living past age 80, the Census Bureau says. But the old folks do not constitute a uniform group of tragically ailing, poverty-stricken crones and codgers. The aged, according to "Sixty-Five Plus in America," a report released yesterday by the bureau, make up a diverse segment of the American population that generally feels healthy and for the most part doesn't live in poverty. The report's author, Cynthia Taeuber, says she attempts to dispel notions and stereotypes of "the elderly" as "one big, homogeneous group." The Census Bureau reported that 31.1 million Americans - 12.5 percent of the population - were 65 or older in 1990. Ms. Taeuber identifies three distinct tiers within that group: * "The young-old," those between 65 and 74, number 18 million and are overall in good health. * "The aged," those between 75 and 84, number 10 million and constitute a transition group between the more healthy and the less healthy. * Finally, "the oldest-old," those over 85, number 3 million and have the largest share of more severe health problems. "In general, it isn't until after age 80 when severe mental and physical ailments become common and economic resources are more reduced," the report said. More than one in five Americans 85 and older live in nursing homes, and 45 percent of those who don't live in such facilities need help with everyday activities, Ms. Taeuber said. It is this last group - 85 and up - that is expected to see the fastest growth during the coming century. Demographers say this will make the four-generation family even more common. "More of the young-old will have very old, frail relatives who need care," the report said. In Colonial times, half the U.S. population was under 16 years old. In 1990, less than 25 percent was that young and more than half were at least 33. By the middle of the next century, the report says, at least half of the U.S. population could be over age 43. The report found that the number of Americans 100 or older more than doubled during the 1980s, totaling 35,808 by 1990. Life expectancy changes significantly depending on the age group from which it is measured. For example, life expectancy measured at birth is significantly shorter than life expectancy measured beyond age 65, Ms. Taeuber said. From birth, she said, white women can expect to live for 79 years on average, outliving all other groups. Black women can expect to live for 74 years and outlive white men, who average only 73 years of life. Black men whose lives are measured from birth barely get a toehold on old age, with an average life expectancy of 65 years. The picture changes significantly for all groups when measured from age 65. Women who enter that group can expect to average another 19 years of life; men, 15 years. Black men who reach 65 can expect another 13.6 years; black women, 17 years. White women are most likely to live to age 85, but when black women reach the same age, they tend to live longer - an average of 6.6 years, compared with 6.3 for white women. Black men average 5.5 years after reaching 85; white men, only 5.1 years. The longevity of women may not be something men may want to emulate, however. "After age 75," according to the report, "most men are married and living with their wives. Most women, however, are widowed and living alone." Furthermore, "elderly women are likely to have long-term, chronic disabling diseases while men tend to develop relatively short-term, fatal diseases." In addition to health aspects of the elderly, the report also deals with the financial side of aging. It found that "the overall economic position of the elderly has improved significantly since the 1970s." The financial stability of the elderly is attributed to the Social Security benefits they receive. Without Social Security and Supplemental Security Income, "47 percent of today's elderly would be poor," Ms. Taeuber said. Census figures show that most elderly persons living alone today are in the farm belt area of the central United States. Elderly people living in group housing are concentrated mainly in the Northeastern United States around the Great Lakes, but their numbers also reached high levels in Florida, Texas and California. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM