U.S. Census Report: 65+ in the United States: 2010

The U.S. Census Bureau has recently published an update of the 65+ in the United States: 2010 report. This report uses information from the 2010 Census; nationally representative surveys such as the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, and National Health Interview Survey; the national vital statistics system; and recent population projections for the United States and other countries. This report covers population statistics, health and long-term care, economic characteristics, geographic distribution, and social trends in the 65+ population.
Here are some highlights from the report:

• excessive alcohol consumption and rates of smoking have decreased in the 65+ age group
• the percentage of people overweight or obese has increased in this age group
• Alzheimer’s disease was the fifth leading cause of death among the older population in 2010
• The average cost of a private room in a nursing home was $83,585 per year in 2010
• In 2006, Medicaid paid for 43 percent of long-term care. 

 Here are some bar charts from the study:

You can download the entire report here.

Caregiver's Use of Technology

The PEW Research Center has just published a report, "Family Caregivers are Wired for Health", about how caregivers use the internet to get health information. Thirty-nine percent of Americans care for an adult or child with serious health issues. Seventy-two percent of these caregivers search online for health information. This report found that caregivers are more likely than other internet users to:

• Gather health information online, particularly about medical problems, treatments, and drugs.
• Go online specifically to try to figure out what condition they or someone else might have.
• Consult online reviews about drugs and other treatments.
• Go online to find others with similar health concerns.

You can access the complete report here.