Coming soon: more older folks than younger

Due to aging baby boomers, older people are expected to outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history in about 17 years.

By 2020, there will be about three-and-a-half working-age adults for every retirement-age person.

By 2030, all baby boomers will be older than age 65, and one in every five U.S. residents will be retirement age.

By 2035, there are expected to be 78 million people in the United States 65 and older compared to 76.4 million under 18, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 National Population Projections.

In Texas, it's predicted within 17 years, the oldest people will outnumber the younger folks...

Rafael Ayuso with AARP Texas said when it comes to aging in place, it's a wakeup call for officials and they’re already working with local officials.

“The mayor of Houston, the city council to put some policies into place to make it age friendly for all people of all ages—infrastructure, it can be transportation, housing, making sure that people feel included in the city, in the civic life,” said Ayuso.

Texas ranks among the lowest in the nation when it comes to nursing home care--especially race equality.

“Now that one in five will be retirement age by the year 2030, will they be retirement ready? For example, savings, pensions and social security. Also, will they be able to afford healthcare?” said Ayuso.

He said people need to continue efforts to strengthen Medicare in Texas and lower the costs of prescription drugs.

Texas, compared to the rest of the country, is one of the younger states, because of all of the immigration here.

For the first time ever, in 2030, immigration is projected to be the primary driver of population growth in the United States.

Even with more American births...than immigrants...the number of deaths of older people will offset those births and population will grow slowly.

The U.S. population, currently at 326 million, is projected to cross the 400-million threshold in 2058.


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