Statistics

Statistics are useless until interpreted and interpretations are inherently biased. So, I'm going to throw out some data that I have found regarding aging in Amerika. Then I'll try to interpret some of it and perhaps speculate on the meanings. You can draw your own conclusions. You may be surprised just how bleak “The Golden Years” are for many Americans.

Just to use as comparisons: the median income in the US is about $53,000 and the median age is about 37.

Now for the data dump.

Fifteen percent of Amerikans are over 60. The average US lifespan for males is 76, for females 81. Oddly, if you make it to 62 your projected lifespan jumps to 84. There are more people over 65 now than anytime in US history. They tend to be concentrated in four states: Florida, West Virginia, Maine and Pennsylvania have the highest percentages. Nineteen percent of males over 65 and 35% of Females live alone. Seventy one percent of Males and 45% of females over 65 are married. Seventy two percent of those over 65 make less than $35K per year. Thirty four percent make under $15K per year. Twenty four percent make at or just above the official poverty income.

Kind of bleak when you look at it.

What can we derive from this? You will live longer than you think or planned for. You are likely, especially if you are a woman, to end your life alone. Also, you are very likely to be poor or near to it. That's it: old, lonely and broke. This in the “richest” country in the world.

So much for “The Golden Years.” I'd say more like “The Lead Years.” Not like The Waltons.

These are just a few of the reasons why minimalism is valuable to older people.

I'll talk more about this more in future posts.

Mike