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Division of Aging and
Adult Services
PO Box 1437
Slot S-530
Little Rock AR 72203

By Herb Sanderson, Director
Division of Aging & Adult Services

This column appears in the June 2008 edition of Aging Arkansas,
a publication of the Arkansas Aging Foundation.

Then, Now and 2020

A friend cleaning out his files sent me a copy of the 1967 “Arkansas Golden Opportunity,” a quarterly newsletter published by the then Arkansas Office on Aging.

In case you weren’t around or don’t remember 1967, here are a few highlights from that year:

Prices were a little different back then.  A first class stamp cost 5 cents.  The Federal Hourly Minimum Wage was set at $1.40 and the median household income was $7,143.  A gallon of gas cost 33cents, milk $1.03, and a dozen eggs 49 cents. 

Prescription drug costs were just beginning to become an issue.  President Johnson noted in his "Message to Congress on Aid for the Aged" on January 23, 1967, "Medicare does not cover prescription drugs for a patient outside of the hospital."  

He stated further, "We recognize that many practical difficulties remain unresolved concerning the cost and quality of such drugs.  This matter deserves our prompt attention.  I am directing the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to undertake immediately a comprehensive study of the problems of including the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare."

How have things changed?  Here are some facts from the 1967 newsletter followed by their current status.

1967:  In the United States there are approximately 19 million citizens age 65+, about one out of every 11 of our total population.

Now:  In the United States there are approximately 37 million citizens age 65+, about one out of every 8 of our total population.

1967:  During this century the 65+ percentage has more than doubled; from 4.1% in 1900 to 9.4% in 1965; at the same time the total numbers have increased almost sixfold, from 3 million to more than 19 million.

Now:  The percentage of the 65+ population has tripled from 4.1% in 1900 to over 12% today; at the same time the total number of older Americans has increased more than tenfold. 

1967:  There are 129 older women to every 100 older men.

Now:  There are 138 older women to every 100 older men.

1967:  Life expectancy at birth is 73.7 years for women and 66.9 years for men.

Now:  Life expectancy at birth is 80.4 years for women and 75.2 years for men.

1967:  The majority of older men and women live in families; only 1 in 25 lives in an institution.

Now:  The majority of older men and women live in families; only 1 in 18 lives in an institution.

1967:  Most older men are married and most older women are widows; there are almost four times as many widows as widowers.

Now:  Most older men are married and most older women are not. There are almost four times as many widows as widowers.

1967:  About 350,000 couples whose head is 65 or over have incomes of $10,000 or more; 940,000 had incomes from $5,000 to $10,000; and about 2.6 million older couples had incomes under $3,000.

Now:  For all older persons reporting income in 2006 (34.8 million), 23.2% reported less than $10,000. Only 32.5% reported $25,000 or more. The median income reported was $17,045.

1967:  Fewer than 20% Americans 65+ are in the nation’s labor force.

Now:  15.4 % Americans age 65+ are in the nation’s labor force.

1967:  The heaviest dollar outlays are for housing, household operations, food purchases, and transportation.

Now:  The heaviest dollar outlays are for housing, transportation, food, and out-of pocket health care.

What will life be like in the future?  Project 2020 will give you a hint. It may be viewed online HERE.

Division of Aging and Adult Services
Herb Sanderson, Director
PO Box 1437 - Slot S-530
Little Rock AR 72203-1437
Telephone: (501) 682-2441
Fax: (501) 682-8155