• While people over 65 are expected to increase at a 2.3% rate, the number of family members available to care for them will only increase at a 0.8% rate. - Source: The Center on an Aging Society, Georgetown University.
• The U.S. population continues to age. The median age rose from 22.9 in 1900 to 35.3 in 2000 and is projected to increase to 39.0 by 2030. - Source: US Census Data

• About 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic health condition and 50 percent have at least two. Arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disorders are some of the leading causes of activity limitations among older people.- US Census Data
• 8.9 million caregivers (20% of adult caregivers) care for someone 50+ years who have dementia. - Source: Alzheimer's Association and National Alliance for Caregiving.
• 7,000 Americans turn 65 years of age each year. By 2011, 10,000 people will be turning 65 each year. And 85% will at some point require some sort of in-home caregiving assistance.

• In July 2003, 35.9 million people were aged 65 and older in the United States, or 12 percent of the total population. Among the older population, 18.3 million people were aged 65 to 74, 12.9 million were aged 75 to 84, and 4.7 million were 85 and older. - Source: US Census Data
• 34 million adults (16% of population) provide care to adults 50+ years. - Source: National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP.
• 30% of family caregivers caring for seniors are themselves aged 65 or over; another 15% are between the ages of 45 to 54. - Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• § The U.S. older population grew rapidly for most of the 20th century, from 3.1 million in 1900 to 35.0 million in 2000. Except during the 1990s, the growth of the older population outpaced that of the total population and the population under age 65. - Source: US Census Data
• The older population is on the threshold of a boom. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, a substantial increase in the number of older people will occur during the 2010 to 2030 period, after the first Baby Boomers turn 65 in 2011. The older population in 2030 is projected to be twice as large as in 2000, growing from 35 million to 72 million. - Source: US Census Data

• In 2000, more than 50 million people provided care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend. - Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Elders represent the fastest-growing age group in the United States. It is projected that the 75+ population will increase 70% by 2025.

Canadian Statistics

• In 1998, there were over 3,700,000 seniors age 65 and older in Canada. Over the next two decades, that number is expected to almost double, reaching almost 7,000,000 seniors age 65 and over. - Source: Stats Canada
• In Canada 1 in 6 family caregivers report being in a "high stress group", where family caregivers have a 63% higher death rate than other people their own age. - Source: Division of Aging, Stats Canada

• Based on the 2001 Census, 35% of women aged 65 and over lived alone as did 16% of the men in this age group. Living alone is becoming more common even for the seniors aged 85 and over. Living alone is also common for seniors receiving care due to a long-term health problem. According to the 2002 GSS, 52% of women aged 65 and over and 18% of men 65 and over who received care lived alone. - Source: Stats Canada
• Based on the 2002 GSS, an estimated 1.0 million Canadians aged 65 years and over living in the community reported receiving care due to a long-term health problem. - Source: Stats Canada
• Expected senior population increase in Canada: