The trend is expected
to continue as “baby boomers” become “senior boomers.” "Their
increased levels of education may accompany better health, higher incomes
and more wealth, and consequently higher standards of living in
retirement," according to the report.
Unfortunately, not all
seniors are benefiting. There are subgroups that have high levels of
poverty, especially older women who live alone.
American seniors are
also becoming more diverse. In
2003, older Americans were 83 percent non-Hispanic white, 8 percent black,
6 percent Hispanic and 3 percent Asian. By 2030, the proportion of
non-Hispanic white should fall to 72 percent with 11 percent Hispanic, 10
percent black and 5 percent Asian.
The
U.S.
population age 65 and over is expected to
double in size within the next 25 years. Currently, there are over 36
million Americans over the age of 65, about 12 percent of the population.
By 2030, 20% of the population - some 72 million people - are
expected to be 65 years or older.
Currently,
Pennsylvania
is the second oldest state with 15.6
percent of our residents age 65 and older.
The Census Report is
available online at http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p23-209.pdf.
Jeff Marshall is
Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
and is the author of Elder Law in Pennsylvania. He is the managing
attorney of the Elder Law Firm of Marshall & Associates with offices
in
Jersey
Shore, Williamsport
and
Wilkes-Barre
. He can be contacted at webmail@paelderlaw.com.
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Marshall & Associates www.paelderlaw.com
