Geographic profile of the aged

The 1990 Census revealed that the number of persons aged 65 and over, especially those aged 85 and over, continue to grow rapidly. As a result, the nation's health, economic and social systems, already heavily impacted, will face escalating problems. However, there are extensive geographic variations in the sex differences and the number of elderly as well as in their rates of growth. For instance, while half of the nation's aged reside in just eight states, in some states they are a small fraction, and in others--such as Florida--they constitute a major portion.