The Demographic Characteristics Of The Senior Population Has Changed Over Time

Jacobsen, Kent, Lee, & Mather (2011) stated, “Since women live longer than men in the United States, women will continue to make up a majority of the older population in the foreseeable future” (pg. 3). Whereas, this age distribution among men and women are expected to remain approximately the same between 2009 and 2030, there will be notable changes in the age and gender gap by 2050 as the gap grows smaller (Jacobsen, Kent, Lee, & Mather, 2011). Furthermore, according to Vincent & Velkoff (2010), by the year 2042 the United States will become more racially and ethnically diverse with the combined minority population expected to become the majority. Thus, as people in the United States age over the next several decades, the older population will also become a more racially and ethnically diverse group. In addition, the overall age structure of the population is expected to change a great deal over the next four decades (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010). This will pose even more challenges to policy makers and programs designed to help the elderly like Medicare and Social Security. Therefore, being able to project the size and structure of the older population, in regards to age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin is not only important to public interest, but also private both socially and economically (Vincent & Velkoff, 2010).

Aging Americans, like other age groups, are feeling the effects of the declining real estate and stock markets, as well as soaring fuel and food prices. Seniors’ economic security will only increase in importance as the U.S. population ages. The nation’s health and social services resources will face unprecedented demand as 75 million people in the baby boomer generation reach retirement age—some with eroded savings and retirement accounts. Aging people of color are more likely than white

In 2007, nearly six million senior citizens in America faced the threat of hunger. Today more than 9.3 million seniors over the age of 60 are struggling with hunger and the numbers are continually rising (Schilling, 2010). Many of our nation’s seniors live on limited incomes and have tremendous difficulty in making ends meet. Staples such as eggs, bread and milk costs are rapidly rising. Utility costs are soaring. Many seniors are finding themselves paying more for medical care and many are finding themselves in financial trouble and cannot keep up with the cost of living. Due to declining health issues, high medical bills greatly reduces their income and some often find themselves choosing between medication and food. Malnutrition is one of the greatest contributors to costly hospital stays and nursing home admissions. In 2014, there were over 4,800 seniors in Scioto County, Ohio over the age of 65 living below the poverty line and facing the threat of hunger (Scioto County Commissioners, 2016).

Adults age 65 years and older make up around 13 percent of the population (39 million people). This number is likely to increase significantly over the next 30+ years to encompass about 20 percent of the population (88.5 million). It is gathered that about 1 in 10 adults age 65

This demographic trend deflects on the stabilization; decline and fall in the United Sates rates in fertility since the generation of the baby boom are given birth. More importantly this demographic trend speculates on the secular increase in the life expectancy and entry of the large baby boom cohort joining in to the normal projected age of retirement that is between 2010 and 2030. The census bureau expects arise of the share population over 65 after the 21st decade short pause (from 13% presently to 20% by 2050 and 23% in 2100).

Generally, social work is acclaimed as related to working with younger populations and handling abuse or neglect in the home. In television shows, you often see social workers entering the homes of children who experience abuse and removing them from the situation. While this can be part of the job description, social work is a diversified field with many career opportunities. Social workers specialize in a range of different areas based on client age and individual need. The social worker’s ethical job responsibilities are outlined in NASW’s Code of Ethics (1999). This paper will review these responsibilities in relation to aging populations and then focus directly on the social workers practice with aging

In the next several decades, the aging population of the United States is estimated to double. This new generation of older adults will be more skilled in politics and technology than ever before. Because of higher divorce rates this new generation of older adults will have less family caregivers available and a larger number will turn to outside help with aging. Older adults are also projected to have a harder time paying for the increasingly expensive cost of aging care because Social Security and Medicare will be used by more people than we have workers. These demographic shifts will potentially cause economic hardship for all.

In 1990, there were 31.2 million people over the age of 65. (U. S. Census Bureau, 2000). There were 35 million people over 65 in the United States in 2000. This represents a 12 percent increase in only 10 years. The population of people over 65 years of age for 2007 reached 38 million people. With the baby boomers now in the category of 65 and over. The “boomer generation” will continue to swell the proportion of Americans over age 65 from now through the year 2050 at which time the older population will then begin to shrink (Longino & Bradley, 2005).

The elderly have had considerably lowering SNAP take-up rates than other age groups. The growing aging population created a downward trajectory for participation rates because as more become eligible for SNAP they continue to have one of the lowest rates of SNAP take-up. Additionally, the take-up among the aging population drastically varies by state impacting the overall participation rate among the subgroup. States that have a high proportion of eligible seniors living in rural areas have lower elderly SNAP take-up rates, than those states where more eligible elderlies lives in more urban areas. States in the Northeast like Vermont and Massechesutts have elderly SNAP take-up rates in the 60% range, while states like Wyoming, Arkansas, and Kansas have elderly SNAP take-up rates between 24% and 27%. Thus, as Americans age the overall SNAP participation is impacted (Cunnyngham, 2010; Gundersen & Ziliak, 2008; Ziliak, 2013). Consequently, as the elderly population grows it becomes an important population to examine with regard to why their participation rates are so low.

The United States is experiencing social issues related to food insecurity and hunger. Current research states that older adults are especially vulnerable to food insecurity. In a study published in the Journal of Urban Health states, “Among the 14.6% of American households experiencing food insecurity, approximately 2 million are occupied by older adults” (Chung, Gallo, Giunta, Canavan, Parikh, & Fahs, 2011, p. 1). Since the year 2011 the Athens Community Council on Aging reports, “Almost 9 million older adults in the United States are at risk for hunger, and Georgia is 8th in state rankings for older adult risk of hunger” (2014, p. 1). Fortunately, in North America, hunger seldom reaches extreme levels of starvation. Researchers’ instead look at food insecurity as a way to monitor needs in our society (North, 2001).

The senior population continues to grow much faster than it has in any generation in the history of the United States. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census (2008), the anticipated growth of the population 60 and over in the U.S. is expected to grow from just under 55 million in the 2010 census to 72 million in the 2020 census. This represents a 13% increase in the aging population in just a 10-year period. To add to this, we are currently experiencing what the National Institute on Aging (2015) characterizes as a dramatic increase in life expectancy. This means that there are more seniors than ever – and more older seniors than

From the knowledge and information learned in class, a large part of today’s population falls into the category of older adults. The age range for this category is sixty-five years of age and up. This age group of today’s population is significantly increasing due to the fact that the baby boomer generation is aging and has longer longevity.

Over the years, there have been major shifts within the United States in regards to its population. Statisticians have estimated that 20% of the population will be 65 years of age and older. There is an even

According to a journal written by Sarah Strickhouser, “Hunger is a physiological state, hunger describes the physical pain and discomfort an individual experience, food insecurity is a social, cultural or economic states and as such, is simpler to conceptualize and measure” food insecurity is a much bigger problem, and exceeds the standard definition of “hunger.” Even when the elderly has food, the quality of the food does not meet their nutritional needs and to say that these people are “hungry” is maybe implying that there is a much greater degree of need.

The number of people aged 65 or above is expected to rise sharply in the