The mature market has limited transportation options in the Bay Area.

Looking to make money serving the mature market? Head west, young man! America’s largest elderly population lives in California. (California Department of Aging)

Approximately 3.3 million California residents are age 65 or over. (California Department of Aging)

10.6% of California’s population is 65 years old or over, and 42.2% of California’s elderly population suffers from a disability. (US Census Bureau)

Growth Statistics: California’s Elderly Population

California’s fastest growing population group is 85 years old and over. (California Department of Aging)

Individuals in the oldest old age group often experience severe health problems and require special attention. (California Department of Aging)

California’s elderly population is expected to grow more than twice as fast as the state’s total population. (California Department of Aging)

Within the next 40 years, the number of Californian residents, age 60 and over, will grow 154%. (California Department of Aging) By 2010, 1 in 5 Californians will be 60 years old or over. (California Department of Aging)

By 2040, California’s elderly population is expected to reach 12.5 million (California Department of Aging)

Currently, 1 in 77 (1.3%) Californians are 85 years old and over. That number will increase to 1 in 62 (1.6%) by 2010 and 1 in 34 (2.9%) by 2040. (California Department of Aging)

Between 1990 and 2040, California’s total population is expected to double in size. During this same period, the oldest old will undergo a 6-fold increase. (California Department of Aging)

The oldest old age group is expected to increase at a faster rate than the total elderly population. In 1990, 7% of the elderly population was in the oldest old age group – by 2040, that percentage will reach 14%. (California Department of Aging)

Life Expectancy

In California, the current life expectancy is 78.8 years. (California Policy Research Center – The Growth and Aging of California’s Population: Demographic and Fiscal Projections, Characteristics and Service Needs)

By 2050, life expectancy is expected to reach 84.2 years in California. (California Policy Research Center – The Growth and Aging of California’s Population: Demographic and Fiscal Projections, Characteristics and Service Needs)

Diversity

Currently, more than one-third of California adults over age 55 identify themselves as non-Caucasian. (California Commission on Aging, Planning/System Design, April 2003)

By 2050, Latinos will be the largest ethnic group among seniors in California. (California Commission on Aging, Planning/System Design, April 2003)

Elderly Hispanics will be the fastest growing ethnic group in California, tripling over the next 20 years. Non-Hispanic whites will be the slowest growing ethnic group. (California Policy Research Center – The Growth and Aging of California’s Population: Demographic and Fiscal Projections, Characteristics and Service Needs)

Impact on California’s Counties

The elderly population is expected to increase by over 100% in more than half of California’s counties. Eleven California counties will experience growth rates of over 150%. (California Department of Aging)

The number of individuals 85 years old and over will increase by more than 150% in 38 counties, more than 200% in 26 counties, and more than 300% in 11 counties. (California Department of Aging)

Transportation

In California, the percentage of trips taken by people age 85 and over as drivers has increased from 49% to 54% since 1995. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Transportation Issues, April 2003)

In California, the percentage of seniors who are limited in their ability to use public transit or cannot use it due to impairment increases from 7% for people ages 69 to 74 to 35% for people age 85 and over. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Transportation Issues, April 2003)

In California, among seniors that have stopped driving due to impairment or health problems, 54% are not able to use public transit either. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Transportation Issues, April 2003)

A study of the San Francisco Bay Area (CA) indicated that between 2000 and 2050, 65% of the growth in the elderly population will occur in places that now have no or only basic access to public transit. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Transportation Issues, April 2003)

Disability Issues and Statistics

Among California seniors living in housing communities, about 17% need help with 2 or more activities of daily living. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Housing Issues, April 2003)

In 2000, over half a million Californian seniors had functional limitations. (California Commission on Aging, Senior Related Housing Issues, April 2003).

The percentage of Californians with mild disabilities is expected to decrease from 4% to 2% by 2030. (California Policy Research Center – The Growth and Aging of California’s Population: Demographic and Fiscal Projections, Characteristics and Service Needs).