Older Americans:
Strength in Numbers

The population of the United States is aging. In 1998, there were 44.6 million people aged 60 and older. The older population of the US is growing rapidly; the fastest growing segment is the oldest old, 85 years and older. The oldest old population grew 37 percent between 1980 and 1990, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Economic Research Service (ERS).

The population of the United States is aging. In 1998, there were 44.6 million people aged 60 and older.

The nonmetropolitan population is aging rapidly, due to aging in place, outmigration of the young from mining and agricultural areas, and inmigration of the elderly from metropolitan areas. And poverty rates of nonmetropolitan elderly are higher than those from metropolitan areas; this trend is even more pronounced in the oldest old.

These recent developments and trends will have an impact on rural economies in the following ways:

• Failing health and consequent loss of the ability to take care of oneself.
• Poverty in old age, especially among the oldest old, those living alone and the most rural elderly.
• Preponderance of women with greater economic vulnerability. Demographics

Because women have a greater survival rate than men, females constitute a larger share of the elderly population at all ages. In nonmetro areas, women represent 53 percent of the population aged 60 to 64 and 63 percent of the population of 85 and older.

Economic Well-Being
With advancing age, economic well-being often declines. In 1998, over half of nonmetro persons aged 85 and older were poor or near-poor (100 to 149 percent of the poverty level) compared with only one-quarter of those aged 60 to 64. The oldest old are the most economically vulnerable, needing health, medical and other services in rural areas hard-pressed to provide them. Older persons living alone are also considerably more likely to be poor than married elderly. In 1997, eight percent of nonmetro elders 60 to 64 in married couples were poor and 32 percent of those who live alone were poor. By age 75 and older, 12 percent of nonmetro married elderly were poor, and 36 percent of those living alone were poor.

Living Arrangements
The majority of elderly typically own their own homes. In 1998, 83 percent of those 60 and older owned their homes, as did 71 percent of those 85 and older. Nonmetro elderly are more likely to own their own homes (87 percent of those 60 and older) than metro elderly (81 percent). Nonmetro elderly have small or no mortgages, thus lower housing costs, than metro elderly. About 86 percent of nonmetro elderly homeowners in 1995 owned their homes, compared with 78 percent of metro elderly homeowners.

Health
The majority of elderly persons under age 85 assessed their health as “good” to “excellent” in 1998. Metropolitan elderly report better health than nonmetropolitan elderly. With advancing age, self assessments of health and physical functioning consistently decline.

Education
Nonmetropolitan elderly are less educated than their metropolitan equivalents. However, this is changing as more educated baby boomers are aging. While 61 percent of nonmetro elders 85 and older did not complete high school, 28 percent of those 60-64 did not. More educated young are aging into the 60 and older category, while less educated elderly are dying. Nonmetro retirement areas are attracting educated older persons, raising overall education levels.

Urbanization
Among nonmetropolitan counties, the increase in the elderly population was greater for counties with a large urban population; the increase was even greater for those counties adjacent to metropolitan counties. The local level of urbanization and metropolitan status influences growth in older populations.

Baby Boomers
Baby boomers are Americans, who were born between 1946 and 1964, the years that have become known as the baby boom, the most fertile period in US history. According to the National Association of Counties, a baby boomer turns 50 every seven seconds in the US. With the prevalent wave of aging baby boomers, there will be a scramble on the part of small metropolitan and rural areas to attract them. With the aging of the baby boomers will come an increased demand for part-time employment and flexible and temporary jobs.

Retiree Attraction
Retiree attraction is an opportunity for small metropolitan and rural areas. Rural retirement destination counties (15 percent or more net inmigration of those aged 60 and older) benefit significantly from population growth. This inmigration of retirees increases family incomes, brings greater economic diversification and reduced unemployment rates. Retiree attraction boosts local populations and tax bases, is important for maintaining main street businesses and key public services, like schools and hospitals in rural communities. Inmigrating retirees can boost local religious organizations, charities, volunteerism and other civic activities.

Impacts of an Aging Population
An aging population can impact resources, including medical care facilities, nursing homes, Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. In addition, the aging of the population increases the number of persons at risk of disability and chronic conditions, creating a greater need for medical, rehabilitative and social services. The low- density populations of many nonmetro communities are hampered in their ability to provide health care services in their own jurisdictions and are often distant from specialized medical care facilities, which tend to be concentrated in metro areas.

By Melissa Levy, Digest Managing Editor

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