Older Adult Health

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Data are for the U.S.

Life expectancy at 65 years
  • Both sexes: 18.9 years
  • Men: 17.5 years
  • Women: 20.2 years

Source: Mortality in the United States, 2022 (Figure 1)

Fair or poor health
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized persons age 65 and older in fair or poor health: 24.3% (2023)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2019-2023

Difficulty with self care
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized persons age 65 and older who had any difficulty with self care: 9.0% (2023)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2023

Smoking
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized persons age 65 and older who currently smoke cigarettes: 8.5% (2023)

Source: Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults, 2019-2023

Obesity
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with obesity (2015-2018)
    • Men ages 65–74: 41.9%
    • Men age 75 and older: 31.8%
    • Women ages 65–74: 45.9%
    • Women age 75 and older: 36.1%

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

Hypertension
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized persons with hypertension (measured high blood pressure or taking high blood pressure medication) (2017-March 2020)
    • Men ages 65–74: 71.8%
    • Men age 75 and older: 83.2%
    • Women ages 65–74: 73.7%
    • Women age 75 and older: 84.1%

Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Published by: Health, United States. Table Htn and NCHS Data Query System.

Percent of long-term care services users who are ages 65 and older
  • Percent of adult day services center participants: 63.3%
  • Percent of home health agency patients: 89.7%
  • Percent of hospice patients: 95.2%
  • Percent of nursing home residents : 82.1%
  • Percent of inpatient rehabilitation facility patients: 89.3%
  • Percent of long-term care hospital patients: 77.2%
  • Percent of residential care community residents: 94.2%

Source: Biennial Overview of Post-acute and Long-term Care in the United States, Table 4, 2020

Mortality
  • Number of deaths of persons age 65 and older: 2,426,775
  • Deaths per 100,000 population:
    • 65–74: 1,978.7
    • 75–84: 4,708.2
    • 85 and older: 14,389.6

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2022) via CDC WONDER

Leading causes of death among persons ages 65 and older
  • Heart disease
  • Cancer
  • COVID-19

Source: National Vital Statistics System – Mortality Data (2022) via CDC WONDER

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