In 2013, according to the Department of Health and Human Services, 44.7 million people in the United States, one in 7 people, were over the age of 65. Seniors comprised 14.1% of the population, up 24.7% since 2003. By 2040, 21.7% of the population will be over the age of 65, and they will total 98 million by 2060. By 2050, the World Health Organization reports that the global population of seniors is projected to total 1.5 billion. By approximately 2018, the population above 65 will exceed the population below age 5 for the first time in the history of census data collection. That gap is expected to widen with fewer and fewer younger members of society to support and care for their senior family members. Combine these statistics with the medical issues related to living longer and the increasing work and family demands on caregivers and the formula is compelling when considering the demands that will be placed on the long term care industry. We are facing an enormous growth in services for the aging sector of our society.
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