News
“Three-Quarters of Elderly People Rated Health as Good, Very Good or Excellent..”
The unhappy news is that people 65 and above are spending more on health care but there is happy news, too.
An analysis of 37 key indicators, published today in a U. S. government report, “Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being,” shows that Americans’ life span has increased by four years and there are fewer limitations on the activities of the 65+ group (functionality).
…”There was some good news: The report found that Americans are not only living longer than ever before but also have fewer functional limitations than previous generations — even though arthritis continues to take a toll, affecting 55% of women and 42% of men.
“A person at age 65 could expect to live slightly past 83, four years longer than the life expectancy for 65-year-olds back in 1960. The life expectancy for a person who is 85 today is nearly 92 for women and nearly 91 for men. (Emphasis added)
“The report found that three-quarters of elderly people rated their health as “good,” “very good,” or “excellent,” during 2006 to 2008. About 66% of respondents who were 85 and older reported their health was good or better. (Emphasis added)
“We are seeing people who are not only living longer, but living healthier longer,” John Haaga, MD, deputy director of the behavioral and social research department at the National Institute on Aging told MedPage Today.
“Despite these positive developments, Americans will likely die sooner than older people in other developed countries, largely because of chronic diseases.”
Source: Medpage Today, July 19, 2010
Source: “Older Americans 2010: Key Indicators of Well-Being. Data come from 15 different government agencies, including the National Institute on Aging, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.” (Medpage Today)
