Data Profiles

Family Caregivers of Older Persons

People are living long today than ever before. Long life expectancy is often accompanied by multiple chronic health conditions, however. Informal caregivers play a significant role in helping elderly persons, particularly those with chronic health conditions, maintain their independence. Although aspects of caregiver are rewarding, providing care to a loved one can be demanding. These demands affect families and employers. Given the increases in life expectancy and the decline in fertility rates, the issues surrounding caregiving are not likely to disappear in the future. The purpose of the Data Profiles on Family Caregivers of Older Persons is to use data-driven findings to raise awareness among policy makers and the media of the daily challenges encountered by informal caregivers. The series of Data Profiles, Family Caregivers of Older Persons is supported by a grant from the AARP Andrus Foundation and a grant from the Mathers LifeWays.

All Data Profiles are available in printer-friendly PDF version ( Adobe Acrobat Reader (new window) is necessary to view these files) or HTML. 

Challenges for the 21st Century: Chronic and Disabling Conditions

Chronic conditions are the major cause of illness, disability, and death in the United States. Almost 100 million Americans have chronic conditions, and millions will develop them as America ages. The Center highlights major chronic and disabling conditions that affect Americans through multiple series of Data Profiles and examines a new condition in each profile.  Staff members completed the first series of 12 Data Profiles in October 2000 and are currently working on a second series of Data Profiles and Issue Briefs.  The 2002-2003 Data Profile series will cover conditions such as pediatric obesity, visual impairments, and cancer, while the Issue Briefs will kick-off by examining substance abuse.  The complete first series is available and the second series will be updated as new Data Profiles are released.

Series I (1999-2000)

Please note that the first series of 12 Data Profiles (November 1999-October 2000) were done by Center on an Aging Society staff and others when Center personnel were at the National Academy on an Aging Society. Center staff left the National Academy on an Aging Society in December 2000 to form the Center on an Aging Society.

Series II (2002-2003)

Issue Briefs (2002-2003)


Young Retirees and Older Workers

Understanding the characteristics of people who leave the labor force at relatively younger ages as well as those who work into their later years may help make predictions about the retirement of baby boomers. The Center highlights characteristics of young retirees and older workers in a series of Data Profiles. The six profiles may be downloaded from our website in PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader (new window) to be viewed.  Please note that four of these Data Profiles were done by Center staff when the Center personnel were at the National Academy on an Aging Society. Center staff left the National Academy on an Aging Society in December 2000 to form the Center on an Aging Society and completed the last two Data Profiles on Young Retirees and Older Workers after leaving the National Academy on an Aging Society.