By The Clearday Research Team

The US population is indeed getting older. How much older? When we look at the US population’s two oldest population segments, those 65 and older and those 85 and older, we see sizable growth in both. This trend has been true for the past 20 years and is projected to continue in the decades to come. 

The United States is in fact a “Graying Nation.” By 2030, one in five Americans will be 65 years and older. (US Census, 2020). The proportion of people age 65 and older is projected to grow from 58M in 2021 → 88M by 2050 (AD Facts and Figures, 2021). The 65 and older segment made up 15% of the US population in 2016, and is expected to grow to 21% by 2030 (US Census, 2020)

Those in the age group of 85 and older are increasing in numbers even more rapidly. The “oldest-old,”  those 85 years and older, are expected to nearly double by 2035 (from 6.5 million to 11.8 million) and nearly triple by 2060 (to 19 million people).  (US Census, 2020) In 2020, total cost of treatment for those living with Alzheimer disease is $305 billion. This includes home health, assisted living, hospice, and the very underestimated informal caregiving costs. As the number of loved ones with Alzheimer disease doubles by 2035, that cost burden also will double to  approximately $610 billion (Wong, 2020).

The growth in the older demographic in the United States will likely increase Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia prevalence as these groups, particularly people age 85 and older, are at the highest risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. There is a much higher prevalence of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia in the oldest-old adults: 34.6% of people >85 yo vs. 5.3% of people age 65-74 (AD Facts and Figures, 2021)

This is why it’s so important to get ahead of the curve. At Clearday, we are creating the tools and resources to care for this growing population segment. To learn more about Clearday’s full offerings and resources, click here (link to: https://myclearday.com).

This blog and related materials prepared by Clearday, Inc. may use publicly available information including market research, studies or reports by unaffiliated third parties that include market demographics and other relevant market or research information. Such information or a link to such information is available upon request. We do not warrant any such information and do not have information that cause us to believe that any such market research, studies or reports are not correct in all material respects.