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1. Introduction
1.1Overview ofAging inArizona
The current state of health and longevity among aging adults is unprecedented, providing
realities that are both exciting and troublesome. Duemainly to broad public health initiatives, the
major causes of death in developed countries have shifted from infectious to chronic diseases
over the past century. As chronic diseases typicallymanifest amongolder adults, this transition
has increased overall life expectancies,meaning a greater proportion of the population is living
longer than ever before (CDC 2013). Coupledwith increasing longevity, birth rates in theUnited
States spiked afterWorldWar II but decreased sharplyby themid-1970s (CDC 2003). The
combination of increased longevity and changing birth rates has caused our population?s age-
structure to shift, increasing the proportion of older adults experiencing the costs of chronic
diseases, while simultaneouslydecreasing the number of youngerworking adultswho contribute
toSocial Security andwelfare systems throughwage deductions. As the babyboom generation is
just beginning to reach older adulthood, the impact of these population dynamics has yet to be
fully realized.
Arizona?s population of older adults represents a diverse set of perspectives coming from awide
varietyof backgrounds.With increased longevity and the ability to be productive formore years
of life than previous generations, Arizona?s aging adults are an increasinglyvaluable resource.
At the same time, health problems associatedwith agingpresent difficult realities that Arizonans
must face together. In coming years, the composition ofArizona?s older adult populationwill
shift, increasing in overall numbers, representing a larger proportion of our population, and
becomingmore racially/ethnicallydiverse than at present. To prepare for the changing landscape
ofArizona?s older adults, it is imperative to understand the existinghealth characteristics of
Arizona?s older adult population.
1.2Methodology
This report aims to provide relevant information on the current state of health amongArizona?s
older adults to those taskedwith the planning and development of the public policy, healthcare
infrastructure, and social support systems needed to address the changingneeds ofArizona?s
older adults. To aid in these efforts, we provide analysis ofArizona?s changingpopulation
structure, the prevalence of common chronic diseases among agingArizonans, trends in
utilization of emergency room and inpatient hospital services byolder adults, and finally trends
inmortality amongolderArizonans. It is our hope to support the healthy agingofArizona?s
older adults byproviding information important to thoseworkingwith and forArizona?s seniors.
This report summarizes data frommultiple sources and acrossmultiple years. Population
projectionswere developed by theArizonaDepartment ofAdministration?s (ADOA)Office of
Employment andPopulationStatistics
). Information
