from Brookings Institution and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
They are called centenarians—people
age one hundred and older—and their
numbers are up forty-four percent since
the year 2000. The numbers come from
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and even demographers are
taking note. William Frey, at the
Brookings Institution, told the New York
Times there is certainly a wow factor in
the number of Americans over a
hundred. He points out that not only
have more people reached a hundred,
but death rates for centenarians are
declining. A number of factors are
credited, including vaccines, antibiotics,
improved medical treatments and
technology. But not even good news is
all good. Experts warn the United States
is, so far, unprepared to handle the
growing numbers of seniors coming out
of the baby boom, especially as the life
expectancy of older people continues to
rise.