Older Persons’ Health

• Both sexes: 18.4 years
• Men: 17.0 years
• Women: 19.7 years

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2021 (Figure 1)

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over in fair or poor health: 23.5% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2022

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over who had any difficulty with self care: 9.4% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2022

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons aged 65 and over who currently smoke cigarettes: 8.7% (2022)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2022

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with obesity (2015-2018)
  • Men aged 65-74: 41.9%
  • Men aged 75 and over: 31.8%
  • Women aged 65-74: 45.9%
  • Women aged 75 and over: 36.1%

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 26 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

• Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with hypertension (measured high blood pressure and/or taking antihypertensive medication) (2015-2018)
  • Men aged 65-74: 66.7%
  • Men aged 75 and over: 81.5%
  • Women aged 65-74: 74.3%
  • Women aged 75 and over: 86.0%

Source: Health, United States, 2019, table 22 [PDF – 9.8 MB]

• Percent of adult day services center participants: 63.3% (2020)

Source: Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, Adult Day Services Center Component: National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study, 2020: Weighted National Estimates and Standard Errors, sum of Questions 20b, 20c, 20d [PDF – 883]

• Percent of home health agency patients: 82.7% (2017)
• Percent of hospice patients: 94.8% (2017)
• Percent of nursing home residents : 83.1% (2018)
• Percent of inpatient rehabilitation facility patients: 87.9% (2017)
• Percent of long-term care hospital patients: 74.3% (2017)

Source: Post-acute and Long-term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, 2017-2018, Appendix III. Detailed Tables, table XII [PDF – 1.2 MB]

• Percent of residential care community residents: 94.2% (2020)

Source: Long-Term Care Providers and Services Users in the United States, Residential Care Component: National Post-acute and Long-term Care Study, 2020: Weighted National Estimates and Standard Errors, sum of Questions 26b, 26c, 26d [PDF-1.1 MB]

• Number of deaths of persons age 65 and over: 2,494,699
• Deaths per 100,000 population:
  • 65-74: 2,151.3
  • 75-84: 5,119.4
  • 85 and over: 15,743.3

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• COVID-19

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2021) via CDC WONDER

• Ambulatory Health Care Data
• Mortality Statistics
• National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
• National Health Interview Survey
• National Hospital Discharge Survey
• National Study of Long-Term Care Providers
• National Institute on Aging