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Facts on Aging
- In 1900, life expectancy was 47.3 years. By 1950 that had increased to 66.2, and today, it is 76.9 years.
- In 1900, only 7% of the U.S. population age 60 had a living parent. Today 44% of Americans age 60 have a living parent.
- Nearly 54 million American adults provide care for an elderly, disabled or chronically ill relative or friend.
- Family caregivers spend on average of 22 hours each week providing care to their elderly relatives or friends.
- A total of 40% of working family caregivers report that care giving affected their ability to advance in their job.
- Eldercare is projected to replace childcare as the number one dependent care issue in the United States. One of every 3 workers will be more concerned with caring for a parent than for a child.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics, National Family Caregivers Association, National Alliance for Caregiving.