Chart 14.-Estimated proportion of veterans in population aged 65 and over, 1960–2000. Table 2.-The aging population: State trends, 1961 and projections for 1970. Table 3.-Old-age assistance, 1962.. Table 4.-Medical assistance for the aged (MAA), calendar year 1962. Chart 4. Median money income in 1960 of 2-person families and persons living alone.. Chart 5. Life expectation in the United States.. Chart 6. Per capita expenditures for medical care, 1961 Chart 7. Percentage of aged 65 and over in the labor force, male and female, 1900-75.. Chart 8. Quality of housing for households headed by persons 65 and over, 1960. . Chart 10. Percent of population aged 65 and over in the United States, 1961. Chart 11. Estimated percent increase in number of persons aged 65 and over in U.S., 1960-70 . Chart 12. How these agencies serve the Older American Chart 13. Marital status of the Older American, 1950 and 1962 Chart 14. Estimated proportion of veterans in population aged 65 and over, 1960-2000. 9 13 14 21 25 40 42 42 58 60 61 Summary and analysis of action on message from President Kennedy to the Congress relative to the elderly citizens of our Nation, February 21, 1963.. 51 67 List of selected Government publications on aging. 24-816 0-63 Who Is the Older American? The Older American has nearly 18 million individual faces. And, on each, the 20th century has drawn the lines of its progress and its troubles, its achievements and its failures; lines of worry over two world wars, a massive depression, a cold war; lines from work on brilliant medical and scientific successes, bountiful agricultural production, and amazing technical progress. The faces are those of: Three ex-Presidents. Nearly 10 percent of the entire United States population. More than one out of four United States Senators. Almost 2 million people working full time. Two of the nine United States Supreme Court justices. More than 10,000 people over 100 years old. Over 122 million people getting social security benefits. More than 3 million people who migrated from Europe to These are some of the faces of the Older American. Behind them are the brains, the strengths, and the weaknesses of the men and women who have had a major part in bringing America into the jet and missile age. There can be no composite picture drawn of the Older American, but we know these facts about him: He may be between 65 and 70 but he is probably older. He may have an adequate income but probably not. He may be working but it is unlikely. He may have a high school education but probably doesn't. He may be in good health but probably isn't. He may not receive social security but probably does. He would like to have more to do but the opportunities do not exist. He may collect a private pension but probably doesn't. He may have adequate health insurance but probably doesn't. He may live alone but probably not. How do we know these things about the Older American? Probably no other group in America has been more thoroughly studied in the past 15 years than the aging. His health. His housing. His employment. His happiness. His habits. Nearly everything about him. And more research is constantly being started, and still more will follow. This study has not been prompted by idle curiosity. It grew mainly out of a recognition, shortly after World War II, that this country was developing a sizable population of older people, that they had unique problems and interests, and that very little was really known about them as a group. 1 |