Census: Nonagenarians a growing group

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- About 1.9 million U.S. residents were 90 or older in 2010, almost three times the population in 1980, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday.

Almost one in 20, 4.7 percent, of residents 65 or older had hit 90, statisticians said. By 2050, one in 10 senior citizens could be in the group.

"Traditionally, the cutoff age for what is considered the 'oldest old' has been age 85, but increasingly people are living longer and the older population itself is getting older," said Wan He, a demographer with the Census Bureau. "Given its rapid growth, the 90-and-older population merits a closer look."

Demographers found that nonagenarians are more likely to be living in nursing homes with the percentage increasing from 20 percent of those in the first half of the decade to 30 percent in the late 90s and 40 percent of those 100 or more. Almost all of those in nursing homes are disabled, while about four out of five who live on their own are disabled.

About 14.5 percent of those older than 90 had incomes below the poverty line, compared to 9.6 percent of those aged 65 to 89.

Out of every 100 people aged 90 to 94 in 2010, 38 were men, a share that dropped to 24 for centenarians. Women were likely to be widows while men were likely to be married.