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2012-2017 Orange County Master Aging Plan <br />DEMOGRAPHICS <br />Older Adults in the US and North <br />Carolina <br />To understand the context in which Orange <br />County's older adults live, it is important to <br />recognize the status of older adults nationally <br />and in North Carolina. At all levels, the older <br />adult population is increasing. The number of <br />adults in the US age 65+ is expected to double <br />by 2050, reaching an estimated 88.5 million.~ <br />While adults age 65+ represented 13% of the <br />US population in 2010, they are projected to <br />make up 19% by 2030.~ Importantly, as the <br />Boomer generation ages, there will be gradual, <br />progressive increases in the proportions of older <br />adults in each age group, ultimately increasing <br />the proportion in the oldest-old category of 85+ <br />years.~ The US population of older adults is also <br />becoming increasingly diverse, with growing <br />proportions of all minority racial and ethnic <br />groups.~ Together, these facts indicate the need <br />to prepare for a dynamic older adult <br />population with services that are culturally <br />relevant and address older adults' changing <br />needs. <br />North Carolina is anticipating similar increases in <br />the proportion of older adults over time. For <br />example, the state is expected to mirror the <br />national projections above, with 18% of its <br />population at age 65+ by the year 2030 <br />compared to 12.9% currently.2 North Carolina <br />will not only need to prepare for changing and <br />increased demands on services for older adults, <br />but also for an aging workforce.2,3 <br />Aging in Orange County <br />In the 2007-2011 MAP, the OCDOA described five trends of Orange County's older adult <br />population: <br />1. The Growth Factor - An explosion in the numbers of older persons. <br />2. The Lonqevity Factor - A dramatic increase in longer lives for older persons. <br />3. The Distribution Factor - An uneven distribution of older persons within the county <br />with different key characteristics. <br />4. The HealthfChronic Care Factor - More residents living more of their advanced years in <br />declining health and limited function. <br />5. The Human Resource Factor - A(arge nnd growing number of older persons (retirees <br />and un-retirees) who are a major human resource. <br />Each of these factors is still important today in enabling us to best understand the context <br />of aging in Orange County and how the OCDOA can support the service and opportunity <br />needs of older adults and their families with the MAP. <br />10 <br />