Older Adult Health

In 2020, the median age of Orange County residents was 38 years; however, one of the fastest growing segments of our population were older adults (ages 60 and older). According to the OC Health Care Agency (the HCA), almost one in four residents in Orange County will be 60 years old or older by 2040 compared to 14.3% in 2019. This surging population has resulted in the need for local government and community organizations to re-evaluate and understand the changing health and social dynamics that their constituents face. The 2021 California Master Plan for Aging serves as a blueprint for state and local government, private companies, and philanthropy to prepare for the coming demographic changes. It states that by 2030, one out of every four Californians will be older adults, a seismic demographic shift that will change every aspect of our lives, from the structures of our families and communities to the drivers of our state’s economy (California’s Master Plan for Aging, 2021).

How Are Disabilities Affecting Our Older Adult Residents?

Why is this important?

According to the National Institute on Aging (2017), 85.0% of adults 65 and older have at least one chronic condition, while 68.0% have two or more. The 10 most common chronic conditions among older adults includes: Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Arthritis, Coronary Heart Disease, Diabetes, Chronic Kidney Disease, Heart Failure, Depression, Alzheimer's disease and Dementia, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Leading causes of death

The Orange County health status profile for 2021 shows that the leading causes of death are heart disease with 4,396 average deaths, and cancer with 3,558 average deaths, and have consistently been the top two leading causes of death during the period 2017-2021. During this period, Alzheimer’s disease has been the third leading cause of death, followed by cerebrovascular disease (stroke) and chronic lower respiratory diseases. However, after 2020, COVID-19 became the third leading cause of death followed by Alzheimer’s, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases.

Causes of Death
For older adults 65+ Orange County, 2017-2021

Older Adult 65+ with a Disability

Why is this important?

People with a disability have difficulties performing activities due to a physical, mental, or emotional condition. The extent to which a person is limited by a disability is heavily dependent on the social and physical environment in which he or she lives. Without sufficient accommodations, people with disabilities may have difficulties living independently. There is often a strong relationship between disability status and reported health status, and many individuals with disabilities require more specialized health care and assistance as a result of the disability. Several federal agencies use information on the size, distribution, and needs of the disabled population in order to develop policies, distribute funds, and develop programs for individuals with disabilities. As of 2020, the rate of disabilities among older adults in Orange County is less than national and state rates.

Almost a quarter of those 60 years and older in Orange County are living with a disability, a rate much lower than the State and the Country.

  • Percentage of Adults 65+ With a Disability

    24.7%
    Orange County
  • 29.2%
    California
  • 34.5%
    The United States of America

Older Adults With A Disability

  State Total State 65+ County Total County 65+
Disability Status
With any disability 10.7% 29.2% 8.9% 24.7%
No disability 89.3% 70.8% 91.1% 75.3%

The rate of disability from ages 65-74 is about 18%; that more than doubles after 75 years to 45.9%, affecting millions of Americans each year. There are also difficulties related to older parents who are the carers of adult children with disabilities - particularly Down yndrome, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), mental health issues, and mobility impairment due to accident or injury.

Disabilities can be categorized into four main types:

  • Lifelong or congenital
  • Acquired by trauma (e.g. car accidents, sports injuries, lived experiences including veterans)
  • Age-related (arthritis, instability, eyesight, hearing, chronic diseases: cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s)
  • Older parents who are care-takers of adult children with disabilities.

Disabled Population in Orange County, 2018

Disabled Population in Orange County, 2018

Margin of Error: Disability Compendium figure = 8.5% of the county are disabled = 270,894
Error: 36,689 people = 1.15%

Adults 65+ With a Disability (measurement period: 2008-2019)
Orange County

Rates of disability increase sharply with age. Disability takes a much heavier toll on the very old. As indicated below, those 75 years of age and older were significantly more likely to have a disability compared to those 65-74.

Disability Prevalence by Age (measurement period: 2008-2017)
Orange County

Diabetes Prevalence: 65+

Why is this important?

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States, especially among older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2019), more than 25 million people have diabetes, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases. This disease can have a harmful effect on most of the organ systems in the human body; it is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation, and a leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Persons with diabetes are also at increased risk for ischemic heart disease, neuropathy, and stroke. In economic terms, the direct medical expenditures attributable to diabetes is over $116 billion (CDC). Diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations and the elderly, and its incidence is likely to increase as minority populations grow and the U.S. population becomes older.

In 2017, over a quarter Orange County residents ages 65 years and older were living with diabetes. This is slightly lower than the state and national rates.

  • Diabetes Prevalence: 65+

    26.9%
    Orange County
  • 27.3%
    California
  • 27.3%
    The United States of America

Diabetes Prevalence: 65+ (measurement period: 2008-2017)
Orange County

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Prevalence: 65+

Why is this important?

Dementia is a non-specific syndrome that severely affects memory, language, complex motor skills, and other intellectual abilities seriously enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is most common in the geriatric population (approximately five percent of those over 65 are said to be affected).

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia among the geriatric population, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It is a progressive and irreversible disease where memory and cognitive abilities are slowly destroyed making it impossible to carry out even simple, daily tasks. Alzheimer's disease typically manifests after the age of 60. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer's disease is the fifth leading cause of death among adults aged 65 and older (2022). The Alzheimer's Association notes that the number of people ages 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease is estimated to reach 7.1 million by 2025, a 40 percent increase from the estimated 5 million ages 65 and older currently affected by the disease. Medicare costs for those with Alzheimer's and other dementias are estimated to be $107 billion dollars in 2013.

To address health disparities related to aging, the National Institute on Aging (NIA, 2021) has supported research that found Alzheimer’s disease to be more prevalent among African Americans and Hispanics than among other ethnic groups in the U.S. Scientists have also observed gender differences in health and longevity.

  • Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Prevalence: 65+

    12.6%
    Orange County
  • 11.6%
    California
  • 12.1%
    The United States of America

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Prevalence: 65+ (measurement period: 2008-2017)
Orange County