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Assisted
Living Facts
Growth
is the defining characteristic of the assisted living
industry. According to the Assisted Living Federation
of America (ALFA), factors contributing to the growth
of the industry include:
- The
aging of the American population, including the dramatic
increase in the number of persons aged 85 and older
-- According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau,
the population of people 85 and older is expected
to increase by 33.2 % by 2010.
- The
continued increase in the number of older people who
live alone -- Women continue to outlive men, and
the likelihood that either men or women will live
alone increases with age. Societal factors, such as
rising divorce rates and the growing numbers of people
choosing not to marry, also contribute to this trend.
- Changes
in the role of women, who traditionally have been
the primary caregivers of older people
-- The number of women in the work force grew from
20.5 percent in 1915 to more than 50 percent by 1995.
- The
increased net worth of older people -- The number
of persons 80 or older with incomes sufficient to
afford assisted living has increased.
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