L.A. County’s Older Adult Population Continues to Grow

America is becoming grayer, and Los Angeles County is no exception. In our county, the population of people aged 65 and older is expected to grow from 1.44 million in 2020 to more than 2.32 million by 2040—a 61% increase—according to an analysis of state Department of Finance data by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). A recent Los Angeles County-specific report by the U.S. Census Bureau documents all these dramatic shifts. As of now, people aged 65 and older comprise 15.7% of the county’s population.

Nationally, the population of residents aged 65 and older increased by 3.1 percent from 2023 to 2024, while the population of children declined by 0.2 percent over the past year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Older adults now outnumber children in nearly half of U.S. counties, with 45% of the nation’s 3,144 counties reporting more residents aged 65 or older than those under 18 in 2024. One in four 65-year-olds today is expected to live past age 90.

Despite this rapid demographic shift, public perceptions of aging often lag behind reality. Many views of “old age” are still shaped by outdated assumptions that no longer reflect current scientific understanding or the lived experiences of older adults.

For example, a common misconception is that most older Americans live in nursing homes. In reality, only about 5 percent of older adults reside in nursing homes at any given time. The percentage increases with age—ranging from 1.1 percent for people ages 65–74, to 3.5 percent for those 75–84, and 13.2 percent for individuals 85 and older, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).

Another persistent myth is that nothing can be done to reduce one’s risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, modifiable risk factors—such as smoking, obesity, and diabetes—play a significant role. According to the APA, staying mentally and physically active can help preserve cognitive function, lower the risk of Alzheimer’s, and support overall health.