Baby Boomer Grandparents

Baby Boomer Grandparents--Who are we? As I have googled and read several documents on Baby Boomers, there are and estimated 75.8 million people that were born between 1946 and 1964 and are now in 2012 between the ages of 48 and 66 years old.

Yes, as you read this page, you will find statistics that make up our lives! Baby Boomers Grandparents live in an amazing time and we, the largest segment of the population, enjoy our lives, family, work or retirement, technology usage and leisure times.

Also, found the statistic that the average age for first time grandparents is 47 which I think, would be a fun age! You would still be young enough to enjoy getting in the floor and playing with your grandchildren and also running soccer plays outside, but not have the painful aches the next morning that some of the baby boomer grandparents have when we do the same activities!

Baby Boomer Grandparents Facts In 1957, there were 4.3 million babies born in the United States. According to the U. S. Census, in 1965, 36% of the U.S. population was under 18 years of age; today 18% is under 18. Boomers make up 28% of the American population

My Mom and Dad and the joy in their life, their first baby granddaughter!

First Boomers turned 60 on January 1, 2006. An American turns 50 every 7 seconds--that is more than 12,500 people every day. By 2015, those aged 50 and older will represent 45% of the U. S. population.

More amazing Baby Boomer Grandparents Stats

• Other stats found that January 1st, 2011, every single day more than 10,000 Boomers will reach the age of 65. That averages out to be one every 10 seconds. This is going to happen every single day for the next 19 years.
  

• By 2030, the 65-plus population will double to about 71.5 million and by 2050 will grow to 86.7 million people. All these stats are taken from the U. S. Census.
  
• Of the 72 million family households in the U. S., 34 million of them are baby boomer households.
• A 50-year-old female can expect to live 82.5 years; a male 78.5 years (Stats from the National Center for Health Statistics).

From Stats of the Baby Boomer article, the following stats are listed: Overall: 78% of those Boomers turning 65 are satisfied with their lives. Retirement discussion: 60% plan on working past 65; 70% doubt they have enough money to meet their retirement needs by age 65; and 40% plan to continue to work--never retire!

Baby Boomer Grandparents love to take Cruises!

• Jobs: 81% of the Baby Boomers have been unemployed for more than 1 year
  
• Internet: 32% of online users age 50-64 visit social networking sites and most use an iphone
  
• According to National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 22.4 million households already care for a family member over the age of 50; often boomers are caring for their parents who may have a terminal illness or have dementia or Alzheimer's Disease.  (My husband and I care for my 92 year old Mother who has dementia, but continues to live a productive life full of smiles and kisses!)   We also volunteer to babysit their grandchildren often during the daytime, but also at night so parents can "have a break!"
  

• Many grandparents still enjoy "rockin' out" with rock and roll, blues, jazz, and hard rock.  Take time to visit one of the local groups or entertainers of the past
• Leisure: 47% of the people who go on cruises are aged 50+
  
• 65% of Museum visitors to art and history museums are aged 50+

Baby Boomer Grandparent:
Head of household full time

According to an article I recently read, it stated that a survey by AARP showed more than 6 million children living in the U.S. live in a grandparent-headed household where there are no parents present.  Yes, and also included was the alarming statistic that 31% of these baby boomer grandparents were raising their grandchildren full-time!

Contrary to popular belief, this isn't something that just happens to a particular race or area or social class. It happens in all socioeconomic groups because of divorce, neglect, teenage pregnancy, the deaths of the parents, incarceration, unemployment, abuse or abandonment.

It can happen and is happening in families all across the United States, trending to almost one-third of American households.

From a Time Magazine article about pension plans:

In 1980, some 39 percent of private-sector workers had a pension that guaranteed a steady payout during retirement. Today that number stands closer to 15 %, according to the Employee Benefit Research institute in Washington, D. C.

News about pension plans, retirement and saving programs are a real issue! We are going to see "Social Security deficits," unfunded pension funds, and many of the states in the Union can't meet pension obligations because the states are broke or on the verge of bankruptcy.

Baby Boomer Grandparents:
Health statistics are staggering

Health statistics are staggering! By age 65, around 2/3 of all seniors and grandparents have at least one chronic disease and see at least seven doctors. Twenty percent of those older than 65 have five or more chronic diseases and see at least 14 physicians and average a total of 40 visits per year to a doctor's office.

What does this mean to our health insurance and to the physicians? How will these practices be affected by the most recent legislation?

Have you considered purchasing LTC (Long Term Care Insurance)? 

With the election just completed, we all are probably considering how the new "Obama Care" legislation will affect our entire country and for each of us individually?

Only time will tell! Of course, that is another discussion for another page or certainly another time!

 Check Out other Sites for
Additional Information

As you find this joy in your heart, please remember to share with other family members and friends.  As we care for my Mom, I see what joy the twins are bringing to her life.  

For the most information on Grandparenting questions!

You may want to check out AARP for the most recent information on Baby Boomers.

According to an article, six million children living in the U.S. live in a grandparent-headed household where there are no parents present. 

Click on Grandparenting Essentials Home Page
for more grandparenting ideas!

From Baby Boomer Grandparents to Life Changes