Question

In 2017, ____ percent of women and ____ percent of men age _____ and older lived alone. The proportion of older adults living alone increases with age, with ____ percent of women age seventy-five and older doing so in 2017 (Administration for Community Living 2018).

Answer 1

In 2017, 37.6% of elderly women and 28.5% of elderly men aged 65 and older lived alone, with the figure rising to 26.4% for women aged 75 and above. These statistics reflect the trend of a growing number of older adults living alone due to the longer life expectancy of women and improvements in the quality of life for the young-old population.

Step-by-step explanation:

In 2017, 37.6% of women aged 65 and older lived alone, and 28.5% of men in the same age group did so. When looking specifically at individuals aged seventy-five and older, the percentage increases, with 26.4% of elderly women living alone in that year. These statistics demonstrate a broader demographic trend where the proportion of older adults living alone rises with age. This trend reflects the longer life expectancy of women compared to men, as women generally outlive men, resulting in a higher number of older adult women living alone. Moreover, the increasing young-old population in the United States, those approximately between sixty-five to seventy-four years old, are experiencing a higher quality of life, with improvements in health, happiness, and financial stability compared to previous generations. This aligns with the population shifts and changes in family structure identified over the years, reflecting the ongoing demographic transition in the United States.