Age of Women

By Joseph Hazan,M.D.,FACOG

Age of Women

It is estimated that the number of women over 65 will more

than double in the next four decades. The number

of women over 85 years will triple and the number of women

over 85 and over 90 will increase even more.

This is partly due to the baby boom generation,partly because

of better socioeconomic and medical conditions, also greater

survival among women.

Demographic trends indicate that the number of Americans aged

65 and older will increase from the current 40 million to 88.5 million

by 2050.

The number of those 85 and older will increase from the current 5.8

million to 19 million. Most of the increase will be among women.

While there were 6.2 million women than men who are elderly in 2000,

due to higher survival rates among women these numbers increase

more steeply at higher age groups. For instance, 54% of population

aged 65-69 are female, 69% of those aged 85-89 are female and 80%

of those aged 95-99 are female.

This is why the healthcare and lifestyle needs of women come to the fore

 as they attain greater longevity.