Disability and Health News for Seniors and Elderly

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Explore disability and health news for seniors, elderly adults, and baby boomers, with facts and statistics on aging, retirement, and older populations.

At a Glance

• 1 - Gerontology studies the aging process, while geriatrics studies diseases of the elderly.
• 2 - AARP lets couples join once one spouse reaches age 50, whatever the other spouse's age.
• 3 - By 2050, Americans aged 65 and older are projected to reach 88 million, double the 2010 estimate.
• 4 - In the United States, people aged 65 or older rose from 4 percent of the population in 1900 to about 13 percent by 1998.

Topic Definition

Senior Citizen

Senior citizen is a common term in American English, and at times in British English, for an older person, generally implying that the individual is retired and has passed the country's recognized retirement age. That threshold varies from place to place, but many dictionaries note widespread use of the phrase for people over the age of 65. Related terms carry similar meaning: old age pensioner or pensioner in British English, and retiree or simply senior in American English. Because societies mark old age in different ways - sometimes by years lived, sometimes by shifts in work, roles, or family status such as becoming a grandparent - the label reflects social convention as much as a fixed number, and it is closely tied to eligibility for pensions and age-based benefits.

Overview

Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the life expectancy of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Euphemisms and terms for old people include, old people (worldwide usage), seniors (American usage), senior citizens (British and American usage), older adults (in the social sciences), the elderly, and elders (in many cultures, including the cultures of aboriginal people).

Baby boomer is a term used to describe a person who was born during the demographic Post-World War II baby boom. The baby boom had profound demographic, cultural, economic, and political implications. The term baby boomer is used around the world. However, it can have entirely unique implications in different areas; in some areas it refers merely to the time, rather than an actual "baby boom."

In 2011, the first of the baby boom generation reached what used to be known as retirement age - and for the next 18 years, U.S. boomers will be turning 65 at about 8,000 a day! In the 1960s, as the relatively large numbers of young people became teenagers and young adults, they, and those around them, created a very specific rhetoric around their cohort, and the change they were bringing about. This rhetoric had an important impact in the self perceptions of the boomers, as well as their tendency to define the world in terms of generations, which was a relatively new phenomenon.

Baby Boomers Comprise Nearly 28% of Adult US Population

In 2050, the total number of Americans aged 65 and older will be 88 million, double the number estimated for 2010. As an economic and political force, researchers say that older adults hold a tremendous amount of social power.

• In North America and Europe, people are often considered old if they have lived a certain number of years.
• The medical study of the aging process is gerontology, and the study of diseases that afflict the elderly is geriatrics.
• The U.S. Census Bureau considers a baby boomer to be someone born during the demographic birth boom between 1946 and 1964.
• The boundary between middle age and old age cannot be defined exactly because it does not have the same meaning in all societies.
• In many parts of the world, people are considered old because of certain changes in their activities or social roles. Examples: people may be considered old when they become grandparents, or when they begin to do less or different work, retirement.

The effects of aging can cause wrinkles and liver spots on the skin, change of hair color to gray or white or loss of hair (or both), lessened hearing and sight abilities, loss of reaction time and agility or reduced ability to think clearly or recall memories.

Seniors: Facts and Statistics

Senior citizen is a common euphemism for an old person used in American English, and sometimes in British English. It implies or means that the person being referred to is retired. This in turn usually implies or in fact means that the person is over the retirement age, which varies according to country. Synonyms include old age pensioner or pensioner in British English, and retiree and senior in American English. Some dictionaries describe widespread usage of "senior citizen" for people over the age of 65.

• In 1900, only about 3 million of the nation's citizens had reached 65.
• By 1998, the number of senior citizens had increased to about 34 million.
• In the United States, the standard retirement age is currently 65 (gradually increasing to 67).
• In the United States, the percentage of people 65 or older increased from 4 percent in 1900 to about 13 percent in 1998.
• The AARP allows couples in which one spouse has reached the age of 50 to join, regardless of the age of the other spouse.
• Population experts estimate that more than 50 million Americans, about 17 percent of the population, will be 65 or older in 2020.
• Worldwide, the number of people 65 or older is increasing faster than ever before. Most of this increase is occurring in developed countries.
• In Canada, the OASP (Old Age Security Pension) is available at 65 (gradually increasing to 67, starting in the period 2023-2029), and the CPP (Canada Pension Plan) as early as age 60.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age is a person considered a senior citizen

There is no single global rule, but many countries and organizations use 65 as a common marker, while some benefit programs and memberships begin as early as age 50 or 60.

What is the difference between gerontology and geriatrics

Gerontology is the broad study of aging across biological, social, and psychological areas, while geriatrics is the branch of medicine focused on the health care and diseases of older adults.

What health conditions are more common among seniors

Older adults more often experience conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, vision and hearing loss, and cognitive changes, though individual health varies widely.

What support services are available for elderly adults

Common services include home care, adult day programs, assisted living, meal delivery, transportation help, and community centers, along with pension and benefit programs tied to age.

How can seniors stay healthy as they age

Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, routine medical checkups, social connection, and mental stimulation all support healthier aging and can help maintain independence.

Are baby boomers and seniors the same group

They overlap but are not identical, since baby boomers are defined by birth years between 1946 and 1964, and many but not all boomers have now reached senior age.

Why is the senior population growing so quickly

Longer life expectancy, improved medical care, and the large baby boom generation reaching older age together drive rapid growth in the number of people aged 65 and older worldwide.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 2 Aug 2026