Vulnerable and Hard-to-Reach Population FACT SHEET: Older Adults
This fact sheet provides information about a population in Florida that is potentially vulnerable and/or hard-to-reach before, during, and after a disaster event. Preparedness requires understanding the demographics and characteristics of these groups in order to best meet the needs of all persons.
Definition
Older adults are defined as individuals 65 years of age and older.
Demographics
Florida has 17.4 million people, of which: Over 3 million (17.6%) are ages 65+ years 3.9 million (22.5%) are ages 60+ years 2.2 million (13%) are ages 70+ years 1.5 million (8.6%) are ages 75+ years Ethnicities of Florida’s Older Adults Caucasian: 2,400,000 Hispanic: 337,000 African-American: 194,000 Asian: 26,000 Native American: 4,000
General Information
Living Habits Live with a spouse: 60% o Rural: 75% o Minorities: 50% o Poor: 25% Live alone: about 25% o Rural: 20% o Minorities: 30% o Poor: 50%
Quality of Life Factors Can perform tasks to manage their household: 85% o Can go grocery shopping or to the doctor independently: 86% Use help with household tasks: 51% o Use help for grocery shopping or going to the doctor: 67% No health insurance over 12 months: o 8% of poor older adults
o 5% of minority older adults Do without or delay the purchase of health items: 74% o 9% of poor older adults forego or delay the purchase hearing aids o 10% of all older adults forego or delay the purchase of prescription medications Live with a disability that impairs sensory function (e.g. vision, hearing) and/or limits daily functioning (e.g. walking, self-care): 40% o Disability rates increase with age
The percentage of older Floridians with at least one sensory, physical, cognitive, mobility, and/or self-care disability:
80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 65 - 74 y/o 75 - 84 y/o 85+ y/o Male Female
Access to Information Do not know where to get information about needed services: 40% Rely primarily on newspapers for news and information: 72% o Poor: 53% o Minority: 54% Use radio for news and information: 12% o Poor: 19% o Minority: 22% Use television for news and information: 42% o Poor: 50% o Minority: 50% o Rural: 36% Rely on other people for news and information: 18% o Poor: 15% o Minority: 16% o Rural: 31%
For More Information
1. 2. 3. Florida Department of Elder Affairs. (2004). Assessing the Needs of Elder Floridians. Retrieved March 10, 2006, from http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/english/Stats/DOCS/AssessNeedsP2.pdf. Florida Department of Elder Affairs. (2003). Projected 2003 Projected Profiles. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/english/Stats/Florida2003.html. Florida Department of Health, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Data Analysis. (n.d.). Florida CHARTS: Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set – Florida Population Estimates. Retrieved March 11, 2006, from www.floridacharts.com/charts/population.aspx. US Census Bureau. (2000). Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF 3) – Sample Data: DP-2 Profile of Selected Characteristics – 2000. Retrieved March 24, 2006, from http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/QTTable?_bm=n&_lang=en&qr_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_DP2&ds_na me=DEC_2000_SF3_U&geo_id=04000US12. Updated 6/26/09
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