New Report on Senior Citizens a Mixed Bag
A new report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics offers a snapshot of the status of seniors. While it’s based on data from 2009 (the latest available) and may not fully capture the impact of the economic downturn, health reporter Judith Graham says things are looking up for many seniors. She observes:
- Fewer are living in poverty. Between 1974 and 2010, the proportion of older adults with incomes below the poverty threshold fell from 15 percent to 9 percent.
- More now fall in the “high income” category. During the time period specified above, the proportion of well-off older adults expanded from 18 percent to 31 percent.
Still, there are challenges
About 40 percent of older adults pay upward of 30 percent of their income for housing and utilities. This is a substantial economic burden, and it speaks to a relative dearth of affordable housing for seniors.
Health and health care continue to be a challenge. Some sobering statistics:
- Health care expenditures, adjusted for inflation, have increased significantly for older Americans, rising to $15,709 in 2008 from $9,850 in 1992.
Older adults who are poor or near-poor (with incomes just above the poverty level) now spend 22 percent of their household income on health care services, up from 12 percent in 1977. - Obesity is making inroads among older Americans, driven by increasing prevalence among older men. In 2009-10, 39 percent of people 65 and older were obese, up from 22 percent in 1988-94.
Obesity can lead to diabetes, a leading cause of retinopathy and glaucoma.
“The trends in vision impairment and blindness, particularly among people 40 and older, are alarming,” EyeSight Foundation Executive Director Torrey DeKeyser said. “The nation has seen an increase of 23 percent since 2000 in this age group and the predictions for that trend to continue are sobering, particularly in Alabama which has such a high incidence of diabetes, a leading cause of retinopathy and glaucoma.”
A recent census by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers finds that there’s a looming shortage of eye care providers statewide.
Alabama’s elderly population is growing
Alabama’s elderly population (13.8%) is higher than the national average (13%) and this year’s Alabama State Plan on Aging projects it will grow dramatically in the next two decades. That has serious implications for the state’s health and long-term care industries.
Alabama Power seeks to delay rate hike for new gas plant amid outcry
The state’s largest utility has proposed delaying the rate increase from its purchase of a $622 million natural gas plant until 2028.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor
The Gulf States Newsroom is hiring an Audio Editor to join our award-winning team covering important regional stories across Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
