Questions And Answers About Old People

1.Why does the immune system get older/weaker?
"Things That Can Go Wrong With the Immune System(taken from http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/immune.html)
Disorders of the immune system can be broken down into four main categories:
1.immunodeficiency disorders (primary or acquired)
2.autoimmune disorders (in which the body's own immune system attacks its own tissue as foreign matter)
3.allergic disorders (in which the immune system overreacts in response to an antigen)
4.cancers of the immune system"

2. What percentages of old people have dementia?
"The prevalence of dementia increases with age and is estimated to be approximately 20percent at 80 years of age. The annual incidence of vascular dementia is 1.2/100 overall person years at risk, and is the same in all age groups. Alzheimer's disease accounts for 50 to 75 percent of cases of dementia. The annual incidence of senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type rises to 34.3/100 person years at risk in the 90 year age group; the incidence is higher in women than in men."
taken from http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/summary/summary.aspx?ss=1&doc_id=8960

3. How long does the average person live?
when you click on this link, it shows the average genders life expectancy:
http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm

4. How many old people break their hips?
Each year, approximately 300,000 Americans over 64 break their hips -- three-quarters of them women. They are two to five times more likely to die within a year than seniors of the same age without a break. And with baby boomers by the millions heading for these fragile years, the number of fractures could double by 2040.
taken from http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/12/10/in_hip_fractures_elders_face_an_intimidating_mortal_challenge/

5. What are the leading causes of death for old people?
In the United States, about 70% of all deaths occur after age 65. In 1999, the greatest percentages of deaths in this age group were due to heart disease, stroke, and cancer. However, because many older people have more than one chronic illness, the true cause of death is often uncertain, especially for people over 85.
taken from http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual_ha/sec1/ch03/ch03e.html

6. What percentage of old people are poor?
Old people 65 and older who lived in poverty declined from 35% in 1959 to 10% in 2003

7. What percentage of old people are disabled?
more than seven million people ages 50 to 64, over 14% of these people know they have a disability and or health condition
taken from AARP

8. What percentage of old people die in nursing homes?
In 1989 there were 5.7% and in 2001 there were 16.2%

9. How many old people die from cancer?
71% of all cancer deaths are in people 65 and older
taken from the National Cancer institute

10. What percent of old people take pills?
30% of of all prescribed drugs are consumed by people 65 or older
40% of all over the counter drugs are consumed by people 65 or older.
taken from http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/health/meds4old/697_old.html

11. What percentage of old people live in nursing homes?
In 2004 1.5 million people lived in nursing homes
88% of nursing home residents are 65 an older, 45% are 85 and older. Yet only 2% of Americans age 65 to 84 and 14% of Americans age 85 or older live in nursing homes.
^taken from AARP^

12. What percentage of old people live by themselves?
63% of most women who live alone are 55 or older, and they tend to be widows, and 34%of men who live alone are 55 and older.

13. What percentage of old people are sexually active?
about 53% to 54% of old people are sexually active
taken from USA Today

14. What percentage of old people were in car accidents?
In 2006 old people who are 65 or older made up 14% of the traffic fatalities
13.5% of vehicle occupant fatalities
18.9% pedestrian fatalities
taken from NHTSA

15. What percentage of old people are healthy or non-diseased?
There were 19.17% in 1999 and 26% in 1982.