By 2029, every fifth North Carolinian will be 65 or older. By 2031, there will be more people 65 and older than there will be children. AARP North Carolina is working to ensure the state is prepared for this. It is a member of the newly created Task Force on Healthy Aging, a project of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.
According to the 2020 American Community Survey (conducted by the Census Bureau), North Carolina’s population grew by 12 percent from 2010 to 2020, 75 percent of which came from a rise in the number of residents age 50-plus.
An AARP study finds that 77 percent of Americans 50 and older want to age in place, and home became central to people’s lives during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the average age of the population is rising and affordable housing can be hard to find.
Americans overwhelmingly want to age at home, and AARP North Carolina is working to make that option more widely available.
About 2.7 million older adults in America are raising their grandchildren. Grandparent caregivers often need physical and emotional support.
It’s estimated that 1 in 10 Americans 65 or older experience elder abuse annually, ranging from financial exploitation to physical abuse or denial of medical care. May is Older Americans Month, and AARP North Carolina is working with agencies and groups to create a stronger elder-protection network.
Serious illness affects all populations, yet some groups experience higher rates than others for a range of reasons, such as socioeconomic conditions and access to health care. The number of uninsured continues to climb in North Carolina, with COVID-19 exacerbating an already existing hole in coverage for many.
The holidays can be a time for frank family discussions. AARP North Carolina urges residents to use the opportunity to make out living wills and other advance directives.
AARP North Carolina is committed to helping rural residents age in place.
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