North Carolina Demographics

1
North Carolina Demographics

• An Overview of
• Aging and Health

North Carolina Health Promotion and Aging
Leaders Meeting March 29, 2005
Mary Altpeter
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The Population of NC is Getting Older

• Older adults are North Carolina's fastest growing
  segment of the population.
• Reasons include decreasing birth rates, improved
  life expectancies, migration, and better health

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Life Expectancies in North Carolina (at birth)
At birth 75.6 years
Source of data NC State Demographics Unit
(2002)Prepared by the UNC Institute on Aging
Last updated 2005
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Life Expectancies in North Carolina (At Age 65)
Source of data NC State Demographics Unit
(2002)Prepared by the UNC Institute on Aging
Last updated 2005
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The Fastest Growing Age Groups in NC, 2001 and
2030
36
69
129
117
137
Source North Carolina State Data Center
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Population Shift in North Carolina
Percent of Population by Age Groups
60
35-59
20-34
0-19
Source of data US Census Bureau Projections NC
State Demographics UnitPrepared by the UNC
Institute on Aging Last updated 2000
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North Carolina Population Pyramid (1990)
Source of chart UNC Chapel Hill, School of
Social Work, CARES NC Division of
AgingPrepared by the UNC Institute on Aging
Last updated 2000
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North Carolina Population Pyramid (2020
projection)
Source of chart UNC Chapel Hill, School of
Social Work, CARES NC Division of
AgingPrepared by the UNC Institute on Aging
Last updated 2000
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65 Population in 2000
Counties with more than 15 of total population
over age 65
Statewide 12
Source of data NC Office of State Demographics,
Census 2000Prepared by the UNC Institute on
Aging Last updated June 2001
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65 Population in 2020
Counties projected to have more than 15 of total
population over age 65
Statewide 17
Source of data NC Office of State Demographics,
projectionPrepared by the UNC Institute on
Aging Last updated June 2001
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More Older Women than Older Men
Percent of NC population by Gender and Age (2000)
All Ages
Age 65
Age 85
Male40.1
Male25.9
Male49.0
Female51.0
Female59.9
Female74.1
Source of data U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Summary File 1, Matrices P13 and PCT12.Prepared
by the UNC Institute on Aging Last updated
September 2001
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Percentage of Unmarried NC Men and Women Age
65(widowed, divorced, separated, or never
married)
Source NC Division of Aging and Adult Services
(2003). The 2003-2007 North Carolina Aging
Services Plan.
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Racial Ethnic Composition of the 65 Population
In North Carolina (2000)
Overall U.S. White 86.9 Black 8.1 American
Indian .4 Asian 2.3 Some Other Race 1.3 Two
or More Races 1.0 Hispanic 5.0
Black 15.8
American Indian.7
Hispanic.6
Asian .5
White 82.5
Note Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any
race figure for Some other Race in NC is .2
and Two or More Races in NC is .4.Source
U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000 Summary File
1Prepared by UNC Institute on Aging Last
updated 2005
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The Growth in the Older Minority Population
29 increase
2000
2015
2030
Source NC Office of State Demographics,
County/State Population Projections Prepared by
UNC Institute on Aging Last updated 2005
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Definition of Healthy Aging

• Healthy aging is the development and maintenance
  of optimal physical, mental and social well-being
  and function in older adults.
• It is most likely to be achieved by
• individuals who live in
• physical environments and communities that are
  safe and support the adoption and maintenance of
  attitudes and behaviors known to promote health
  and well-being
• the effective use of health services to prevent
  or minimize the impact of acute and chronic
  disease on function
• CDC-funded PRC Healthy Aging Research Network
  http//depts.washington.edu/harn/

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Older Adults in NC Compared to Nationwide
Percent of NC population aged 65 (2000)
Source of data U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000
Supplementary Survey Tables Prepared by the UNC
Institute on Aging Last updated October 2001
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NC Poverty Rates Among Older Adults
Source NC Division of Aging and Adult Services
(2003). The 2003-2007 North Carolina Aging
Services Plan.
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Medicaid Eligibility of Older Adults in NC
Source NC Division of Medical Assistance,
Medicaid Tables For State Fiscal Year
2003Prepared by UNC Institute on Aging Last
updated 2005
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Older Adults 65 Rate Their General Health Status
Source NC BRFSS 1997-2001 in A Health Profile of
Older North Carolinians, 2003
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Five Leading Causes of Death among North
Carolinians Age 65
Source NC Center for Health Statistics (2003).
Leading Causes of Death 2002
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The State of Aging and Health in America, 2004

• National Report Card on 15 indicators in the CDC
  Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  (BRFSS)
• health status, health behaviors, preventive care,
  and injuries of persons age 65

The Merck Institute of Aging Health
www.miahonline.org www.cdc.gov/aging
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NCs Ranking among States for Meeting Healthy
People Targets for Older Adults
Grade
Rank

Indicator
81.1
women had mammogram in past 2 yrs
86.4
had cholesterol checked in past 5 years
63
ever had a pneumonia shot
68.1
got flu vaccine in past year
53.5
ever had a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
14
currently smoking
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N NCs Ranking among States for Meeting Healthy
People Targets for Older Adults
Grade
Rank

Indicator
32.4
have complete tooth loss
26
report eating 5 or more fruits and vegetables
daily
39.9
report no leisure time physical activity
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NCs Ranking among States for Meeting Healthy
People Targets for Older Adults
Grade
Rank
/ avg
Indicator
35.2
women up-to-date on select preventive services
37.1
men up-to-date on select preventive services
7.6
having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days in past
month
34.2
report having disability
22.9
obese
7.1 days
average of physically unhealthy days in past
month
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15th Indicator Hip Fractures among Adults 50

• North Carolina
• 15.5 fractures
• per 1,000

• US
• 15.6 fractures
• per 1,000

Target 6.07/1,000
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Health Professionals In Short Supply
Source North Carolina Rural Health Research
Program, Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health
Services Research, University of North Carolina
at Chapel HillLast updated 2005
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What the Data Tells Us about Older North
Carolinians

• The population is aging and the older adult
  population is the fastest growing sector
• The majority of NC counties are experiencing
  increases in the proportion of their older adult
  populations
• Older adults are becoming more racially and
  ethnically diverse racial differences exist in
  perceptions of health status

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What the Data Tells Us About Older North
Carolinians (continued)

• Gender, race and income differences compound
  health problems
• As compared to the US average, the NC older adult
  population is less educated, has lower incomes,
  is more likely to be disabled, yet is also more
  likely to be working
• The growth of the older adult population will
  place increased demand for health promotion,
  support services, greater need for long term care
  solutions, and higher expenditures for health
  care and services

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What the Data Tells Us About North Carolinas
Service Capacity

• NC is meeting national standards for selected
  preventive care
• BUT
• NC is not meeting the national standards for oral
  health care, proper nutrition and physical
  activity levels
• NC is ranked 42nd or worse in the percent of
  older adults who are disabled, obese or report
  physically unhealthy days
• NC does not have an adequate health services
  workforce