7 Interesting Facts About the Elderly

When we talk about aging, there is often a focus on the negative — particularly the challenges that come with adjusting to our changing minds and bodies.

While these issues can all be an unfortunate reality of getting older, focusing on the negatives ignores the fun parts of getting older, wiser, and better traveled. Reaching your golden years is achievement and one that can come with a lot of opportunity for positive growth, change, and self-discovery. In this post, we’ll explore 7 fun facts about seniors and what it really means to get older.

Elderly Fact #1 — Seniors Have Active Sex Lives

For our first fun fact about seniors, let’s talk about sex. Research by the National Poll on Healthy Aging shows that about 40% of people between the ages of 65 and 80 are sexually active. 73% of those polled said they were satisfied with their current sex life, and only 18% of men and 3% of women said they were taking medication or supplements to improve their sexual health.

“This survey just confirms that the need for and interest in sexual intimacy doesn’t stop at a certain age,” says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP.

Elderly Fact #2 — Seniors Are Having Fun with Cannabis

Over half of U.S. states have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational and/or medical use — and seniors have taken notice. Research by the National Poll on Healthy Aging shows, in the past year, 21% of adults aged 50 and older used cannabis.

Of those who said they used cannabis, many admitted that their top reason was simply for recreation, with 81% saying they used it to relax and 64% saying their primary motivation was simply to “enjoy the effects” or  “feel good.”

Elderly Fact #3 — Seniors Are More Independent Than You Think

While many people associate seniors with living in nursing homes or full-time care facilities, research from the Administration for Community Living shows that a relatively small number of people 65 and older lived in nursing homes. Of the 31.9 million women and 25.9 million men over the age of 65, only 1.3 million lived in nursing homes, with in-home care for seniors being far more common.

Elderly Fact #4 — Seniors Travel More

AARP’s 2024 Travel Trends report shows nearly two-thirds (65%) of Americans ages 50-plus plan on traveling in 2024. 75% of travelers in their 50s have a “travel bucket list” – showing a higher-than-average desire to get out of their normal routines and explore.

Elderly Fact #5 — Seniors Sweat Less

As we age, our sweat glands shrink and become less sensitive overall. While this can make seniors more susceptible to heat, it also means fewer sticky underarms on hot days!

Elderly Fact #6 — Seniors Get Less Colds

According to the American Lung Association, the average adult catches a cold between two and four times a year, whereas young children get them six or eight times a year. By the time we’ve made it to middle-age, our bodies have built up an immunity to more cold viruses, making it less likely you’ll get sick when cold season starts.

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Elderly Fact #7 — Seniors Are More Relaxed

For our last fact about old age, let’s take a moment to relax — because studies show that retired seniors are generally less stressed than younger adults.

James Maddux, a senior scholar at the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Va. says, “Research shows that people get better at emotional regulation over time,” said Maddux. “Life experience gives your perspective. You know the downs don’t last, and the ups don’t last.”

Did any of our facts about elderly people surprise you? If you need help from an elder care expert, contact our caregiving team today at 1-800-GRISWOLD to learn more about our home care services, or find a Caregiver near you.