Today it is the Month of May-The Year 2014
I find rather thought provoking that in my "Senior Periodicals" for the "Month of May" no mention of "May Poles", "May Baskets" or "May Day"? Do note that "May was officially proclaimed; nationwide, "Older Americans Month" in 1963 honoring those age 65 and older. The state of Oklahoma will however hold its "39th Annual" OK Conference on Aging" on May 20-22 in Norman. May 20 "Senior Day"- all events are "Free of Charge" to those age 60 and older. While AARP welcomes all to join its ranks for Publications Discounts and Benefits at age 50!
Born in 1927, I was one of " The Great Depression Children". The "Official Day of the Market Crash" was October 24, 1929-My Second Birthday!
In the Era of My Childhood that followed I came to know My Elders well - A Sad Story to Tell! Following the Death of My Daddy- from a simple Tonsil Surgery- an infection- and Miracle Drugs like Penicillin-not as yet to be! At age eight, my grieving Mother and I came to dwell in the beautiful Tulsa home of my Grandparents. My Grandfather, an alcoholic-a problem with which many successful, early day oilmen had to cope- My Grandmother, was at the Mayo Clinic termed "legally blind" after two unsuccessful eye surgeries. They said there was no Hope!!
My childhood blended into the Era of my "early teen years"- "Pearl Harbor" and World War II - Today at 86-I observe the "Greatest Generation"- In the 1940's we and our Elders- all who fought brought our Country "- Proudly and Victoriously thorough WWII. On the "home front", I sadly remember we viewed daily the newspaper's long list of "Oklahoma's Casualty News": We Teens and Elders understood "Ration Stamps" full well-From Sugar to Shoes-Rationed Tires and Gas-Many Stories to Share - of that Era now so Long Past!
With Peace there came the Post-War Era. My college years-Then Marriage-The Roles of Wife and Mother-Volunteer Years-Career Years-Grandmother-Great-Grandmother-Widow-Where did the Eras All Go? I see again this "Month of May," will there be some who still think of Baskets Today? I can still so vividly recall- "My own two Little Girls." My working always with their "Brownies and Scout Troops" Making "May Baskets'-Construction Paper-Cut and Fold-Jars of thick Paste-Wondering will the Handles Hold? The wilting white Spireas and Daffodils of Gold-always working in haste and my words as we cleaned-up our meeting place- I can still hear Myself say, "Remember We are Going to Leave this Place Better than We Found it Today"!
Now Dear Lord- In this my "Eldest Aging ERA"- Today, in the Beautiful Month of May-My Place is Your Beautiful Blooming Planet Earth - My nightly Prayer Lord, if I may, ask for Strength that I may "Leave this Place Better than I Found it Today"!
Marolyn Donnelly Stout, 2014 National Older Americans Month
From http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb14-ff07.html Older Americans Month: May 2014
A meeting with the National Council of Senior Citizens resulted in President John F. Kennedy designating May 1963 as Senior Citizens Month, encouraging the nation to pay tribute to older people across the country. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter's proclamation changed the name to Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate those 65 and older through ceremonies, events and public recognition.
43.1 million
The number of people who were 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2012. This group accounted for 13.7 percent of the total population.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
< http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/PEP/2012/PEPAGESEX>
92.0 million
Projected population of people 65 and older in 2060. People in this age group would comprise just over one in five U.S. residents at that time. Of this number, 18.2 million would be 85 or older.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
< http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html>
2.4 million
Projected number of baby boomers in 2060. At that time, the youngest baby boomers would be 96 years old.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
< http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html>
2056
The year in which, for the first time, the population 65 and older would outnumber people younger than 18 in the U.S.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Projections
< http://www.census.gov/population/projections/data/national/2012.html>
Income and Poverty
$33,848
The 2012 median income of households with householders 65 and older, not significantly different from the previous year.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table 1
< http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf>
9%
The percent of people 65 and older (3.9 million) who were in poverty in 2012.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2012, Table 3
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-245.pdf>
$170,516
Median net worth for householders 65 and older in 2011, down from $203,015 (in 2011 dollars) in 2005.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Net Worth and Asset Ownership of Households: 2011
< http://www.census.gov/people/wealth>
14.8%
Percent supplemental poverty rate for those 65 and older, equating to 6.4 million people. Excluding Social Security would leave the majority of this population (54.7 percent or 23.7 million) in poverty.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2012
< http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p60-247.pdf>
Serving Our Nation
9.6 million
Estimated number of people 65 and older who were veterans of the armed forces in 2012.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey
< http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B21001>
Jobs
21.3%
Labor force participation rate for men 65 and older in 2012, up from 17.6 percent in 1990 and significantly higher than the rate for women 65 and older at 13.4 percent (8.4 percent in 1990).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey Table B23001
< http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/12_1YR/B23001>
4.3 million
Number of full-time, year-round workers 65 and older with earnings in 2012, up from 1.3 million in 1992.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Historical Income Tables: People, Table P-32
< http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/people/>
Education
82.6%
Proportion of people 65 and older in 2013 who had completed high school or higher education.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races
< http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html>
25.3%
Percentage of the population 65 and older in 2013 who had earned a bachelor's degree or higher.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2013, Table 1 All Races
< http://www.census.gov/hhes/socdemo/education/data/cps/2013/tables.html>
Marital Status and Living Arrangements
58%
Percentage of people 65 and older who were married in 2013.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
< http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html>
26%
Percentage of people 65 and older in 2013 who were widowed.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Families and Living Arrangements, Table A1
< http://www.census.gov/hhes/families/data/cps2013A.html>
Computer and Internet Use
61.8%
The percentage of those 65 and older who reported living in homes with computers in 2011. Additionally, 45.5 percent accessed the Internet either from home or elsewhere.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Computer and Internet Use, Table 2
< http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-569.pdf>
Voting
71.9%
Percentage for those 65 and older who reported casting a ballot in the 2012 presidential election.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, The Diversifying Electorate--Voting Rates by Race and Hispanic Origin in 2012 (and Other Recent Elections), Table 6
< http://www.census.gov/prod/2013pubs/p20-568.pdf>
Homeownership
80.7%
Percentage of householders 65 and older who owned their homes as of fourth quarter 2013.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Table 7
< http://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/q413ind.html>
On the Map
18.2%
Percentage of Florida's population that was 65 and older in 2012, followed by Maine (17.0 percent) and West Virginia (16.8 percent). Alaska had the lowest percentage (8.5 percent), followed by Utah (9.5 percent) and Texas (10.9 percent).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
< http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html>
49.3%
Percentage of the population in Sumter, Fla., that was 65 and older in 2012 - which led all of the nation's counties. Other counties were Charlotte, Fla. (36.0 percent) and La Paz, Ariz. (34.9 percent). Chattahoochee, Ga. (3.6 percent) had the lowest percentage.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates
< http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-112.html>
Centenarians
53,364
The number of people age 100 and older counted by the 2010 Census.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
< http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf>
20.7
For every 100 centenarian women, the number of centenarian men in 2010.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
< http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf>
43.5%
In 2010, percentage of centenarian men who lived with others in a household, the most common living arrangement for this group. For their female counterparts, the most common living arrangement was residing in a nursing home (35.2 percent).Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
< http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf>
3.29
Number of centenarians per 10,000 people in North Dakota in 2010. North Dakota was the only state with more than three centenarians per 10,000 people.Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Centenarians: 2010
< http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/reports/c2010sr-03.pdf>
No comments:
Post a Comment