Definition
The demographic group over 64 years of age is often categorized as “senior citizens”. This group is currently an increasing portion of the total population. PRECEDE allows us to view the percentage of the population over 64 years old at various levels of granularity, including within a census tract, within a county, or state-wide.
Context/Impact on Health
According to the 2020 Census, the US population age 65 and older grew five times faster than the total population from 1920 to 2020. Approximately 1 in 6 individuals, or 16.8% of the population, fall within this age bracket and this number is anticipated to grow. This shift in the nation’s age distribution can be attributed to the aging baby boomer generation. This segment of the population is of particular significance to sectors like healthcare and social services given the unique needs and challenges associated with aging. It is also important to implement safe and accessible built environment features that can accommodate the health-related challenges that come with aging (e.g., places for rest, accessible design elements, large print signage). Generally, older adults experience more complex health problems than younger populations. This population is at higher risk of experiencing major health problems including obesity, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic conditions. They may also experience difficulties with maintaining independent living, securing food, and accessing medical care. The growing number of older adults may pose new challenges for the country’s healthcare system to successfully manage the type and amount of care needed for this population.
Data Collection Methodology
The American Community Survey (ACS) is a nationwide survey that collects information on the demographic, social, economic, and housing characteristics of the US population. The ACS is an ongoing survey sent to 3.5 million addresses each year. The ACS provides estimates for the percentage of the population older than 64 years old in the country at the state, county, and census tract level.
