TABLE 5-4.—EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF PERSONS AGE 65 AND OLDER, UNITED STATES AND REGIONS: 1986 AND 1987—Continued

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Report, Series P-20, No. 428 (August 1988).

41

57

15

63

51

5730:

13

10

63

13

43

9

54

16

58

10

66

7

67

12

Differences by age group in educational attainment, unlike those in health status or income, are almost entirely due to the "cohort effect." That is, educational attainment is primarily a function of the prevailing attitudes and educational opportunities at a point in time. A population cohort receives most of its formal education during its formative and early adult years and then maintains that level of educational attainment throughout its lifetime.

The elderly population of today received the bulk of its formal education early in this century when educational opportunities were more limited than in recent decades and when the economic structure of the country put less emphasis on schooling. Also, the foreign born, who at that time had much lower levels of literacy and education than the native population, were a much larger proportion of the U.S. population. The strides made by this country in providing for universal education, fostering and rewarding college education, and increasing educational opportunities for women and minorities are reflected in the projected rapid increase in educational attainment by the older population in the next few years when people educated after World War II join the ranks of the older population.

A small number of older persons enroll in formal education courses. In October 1986, 159,000 persons age 55 or older were enrolled in high school or college courses. Of these enrollees, 124,000 were persons ages 55 to 64 and 15,000 were aged 65 or older, representing 0.6 to 0.1 percent of these age groups respectively.

Formal schooling is not the only educational opportunity available to older people. Adult education, typically in the form of parttime, noncredit courses taken for pleasure or to enhance one's career interests, is pursued by large numbers of older people. In the year ending May 1984, 23.3 million people 17 years of age or older had taken one or more adult education courses. Of these par

ticipants, nearly 900,000 (4 percent) were 65 or older, and 2.7 million (12 percent) were 55 or older.1

HOUSING

MOST OLDER PERSONS ARE ADEQUATELY HOUSED, BUT THOSE WITH LOWER INCOMES HAVE PROBLEMS OBTAINING UNITS THAT ARE AFFORDABLE AND SUITABLE

Of the 91.1 million U.S. households in 1988, 19.5 million (21 percent) were headed by people 65 years old or older.5 Older people are a higher percent of householders than of the general population because their average household is smaller.

Housing, while an asset for most older people, represents a serious burden for others. For older homeowners who do not have to budget for a mortgage or rental payments, or who can sell their homes at a profit, housing can be an asset. However, for many elderly persons who own older homes, the cost of utilities, real estate taxes, insurance, repair and maintenance can be prohibitive. And, for renters or owners with a mortgage, monthly payments can be a substantial burden.

Housing costs vary dramatically depending on homeownership status and age. The percentage of income spent on housing (excluding maintenance and repairs) in 1985 was higher for older households than for younger households: among homeowners without a mortgage (18 v. 10 percent), homeowners with a mortgage (28 v. 21 percent), and renters (35 v. 26 percent) (table 5-5). Housing costs, as defined in this section, include gross rent or mortgage, real estate taxes and insurance for owners, and basic utility costs for all owners and for renters if such fees are not included in their rent. There were over 2.6 million elderly households which spent more than half of their incomes in 1985 to provide themselves with shelter (table 5-5). The percentage of households spending 50 percent or more of their incomes on housing was higher for older households than younger households among homeowners with no mortgage (8 v. 4 percent), homeowners with a mortgage (21 v. 7 percent), and renters (29 v. 19 percent).

TABLE 5-5.-HOUSING COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF INCOME, BY AGE OF HOUSEHOLDER, TENURE, AND MORTGAGE STATUS: 1985

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "American Housing Survey for the United States in 1985," Current Housing Reports, Series H-150-85 (December 1988).

4 U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement. "Participation in Adult Education, May 1984." (October 1986).

5 U.S. Bureau of the Census. "Money Income of Households, Families, and Persons in the United States, 1987." Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 162 (February 1989).

HOUSING RENTAL AND OWNERSHIP VARIES BY AGE, SEX, AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

Of the 19.5 million households headed by older persons in 1988, 75 percent were owner-occupied and 25 percent were rental units.6 Among the elderly, however, householders 75 years old or older in 1985 were more likely than householders 65-74 years old to rent (33 v. 22 percent), males were more likely than females to own homes (81 v. 63 percent), and persons living alone were more likely to rent than were people who lived with their spouses (40 v. 13 percent). The 1985 Annual Housing Survey found that 83 percent of owner-occupied elderly houses were owned free and clear.8

7

Over a third (37 percent) of elderly owner-occupied households in 1985 were inhabited by older men or women living alone, but over two-thirds (68 percent) of elderly rental units were maintained by older men or women living alone.9

Of the 5.1 million rental housing units occupied by elderly householders in 1985, about 1.5 million or 3 of every 10 (29 percent) were receiving rent reductions by living in public housing developments or housing covered by some form of Federal, State, or local government rent subsidy. Even higher percentages of older black renters (40 percent) and Hispanic renters (38 percent) were receiving rent reductions. Only 12 percent of younger households resided in public or subsidized units. 10

THE ELDERLY ARE MOST LIKELY TO LIVE IN OLDER HOMES OF LOWER VALUE

Homeowners 65 years old or older are more likely than younger homeowners to live in older homes. In 1985, 45 percent of elderly homeowners lived in housing structures built before 1950, and 16 percent lived in structures built before 1920. By contrast, 25 percent of younger homeowners lived in units built before 1950, and 8 percent lived in units built before 1920. The age of housing for younger renters was similar to that for elderly renters: 28 and 30 percent, respectively, of these age groups lived in structures built before 1950, and 12 and 14 percent, respectively, rented units built before 1920.11

While age of housing is not necessarily an index of physical condition, it does bear a relationship to size, functional obsolescence, and ease of maintenance. Various housing studies reveal that many older persons live in homes that are too large for current family size and need. Many elderly with physical handicaps do not have the funds or the services available to adapt older, larger homes to their physical needs.

Age of housing also affects net worth. The median value in 1985 of all U.S. homes occupied by older homeowners and built before

6 U.S. Bureau of the Census. "Poverty in the United States: 1987." Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 163 (February 1989).

'U.S. Bureau of the Census and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, "American Housing Survey for the United States in 1985," Current Housing Reports, Series H150-85 (December 1988).

8 Ibid.

9 Ibid.

10 Ibid. 11 Ibid.

1950 was $45,400 as compared to $70,900 for those built after April 1980. Thus, the median value for elderly owner-occupied housing in 1985 was $52,300, compared to $65,100 for housing occupied by younger home owners. The median value for homes owned by older blacks ($30,700) was considerably less than homes owned by older whites and other races ($54,300) and older Hispanics ($49,900A).12 THE MAJORITY OF POOR FAMILIES WITH AN AGED MEMBER LIVE IN PRIVATE HOUSING

Table 5-6 shows housing tenure for poor and nonpoor aged families and unrelated individuals. The table shows that the majority of elderly persons own their own home or live with relatives who own their own homes-regardless of poverty status or living arrangements. Almost one in four (23.3 percent) poor aged unrelated individuals reported living in publicly supported housing (either public housing or rent subsidized housing). In contrast, about 8 percent of aged nonpoor unrelated individuals lived in publicly supported housing.

TABLE 5—6.—HOUSING TENURE OF AGED FAMILIES, AND UNRELATED INDIVIDUALS BY FAMILY TYPE AND POVERTY STATUS, 1987

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ELDERLY PERSONS LIVE IN INADEQUATE HOUSING AND DO NOT HAVE TELEPHONES

Among housing units with householders 65 or older, the 1985 Annual Housing Survey found that 1.6 million (8 percent) had "physical problems." Such units are defined as having specified flaws in one or more of six areas: plumbing, kitchen, maintenance of physical structure, public hall/common area, heating and electrical systems.13 Older blacks (27 percent) and Hispanics (19 percent) were much more likely than whites and other races (6 percent) to live in units with physical problems, as were older renters (11 percent) v. owners (7 percent), older rural households (13 percent) v.

12 Ibid.

13 Ibid.

urban (7 percent), and older householders in units built before 1950 (13 percent) v. newer units (5 percent).

Telephones are an important link for all persons, particularly for elderly persons who live alone. Data from the 1985 American Housing Survey show that elderly renters are much more likely to be without a telephone than older homeowners. Nine percent of older renters were without telephones in 1985 while only 4 percent of older homeowners had no phones. Only 5 percent of white and other races householders were without phones compared 11 and 13 percent, respectively, of their black and Hispanic counterparts. 14

VOTING

In 1988, almost 20 million (19 percent) of the 102 million Americans who reported voting in that year's election were 65 years or older. In the 1984 Presidential election, persons 65 and older accounted for 18 percent of all noninstitutionalized people who reported voting.

Persons in the 55-64 and 65-74 age groups participate more in elections than other age groups, as shown by data for the last five national elections-1980, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 1988 (table 5-7 and chart 5-4). In fact, the percentages of each of these two age groups voting in the 1988 election were twice that of the 18-19 age group. Voting participation declines for age groups 75 and older; but it is interesting that in the last four elections, the 75-plus age group was still more likely to vote than those younger than 35.

14 Ibid.