AS AMERICANS LIVE LONGER, THE PROBLEMS OF FINANCING MEDICAL CARE AND RETIREMENT HAVE GENERATED A LOT OF HEADLINES. BUT THE GROWING NUMBER OF HEALTHY SENIORS ALSO MEANS OPPORTUNITIES. BOTH THE PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING SPOTLIGHTED IN MAY—IT’S NATIONAL OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

     THERE ARE MORE THAN 35 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AGED 65 AND OVER. NEARLY ONE IN FIVE IS STILL IN THE LABOR FORCE, AND ABOUT ONE THIRD ARE MILITARY VETERANS.

     DURING THE LAST CENTURY, WHILE THE GENERAL POPULATION MORE THAN TRIPLED IN SIZE, THOSE 65 AND OVER GREW MORE THAN TEN TIMES.

     BECAUSE WOMEN HAVE GREATER LONGEVITY, THEY OUTNUMBER MEN AMONG OLDER AMERICANS. FOR EVERY 100 WOMEN 65 AND OLDER, THERE ARE 70 MEN.

     YOU CAN FIND THESE AND MORE FACTS ABOUT AMERICA FROM THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ON THE WEB AT CENSUS-DOT-GOV.