Survey: Older Adults Finding Optimism, and Challenges, as They Age

A new Pew Research Center survey finds that most older adults feel optimistic about their lives and would like to live beyond the current U.S. life expectancy of 78.

In the survey of 8,750 U.S. adults, 76 percent said they want to live at least to age 80. This includes 29 percent who hope to reach 100, a milestone achieved by only about 0.03 percent of the U.S. population.

On average, Americans reported an ideal lifespan of 91 years.

Pew researchers noted that while babies born in the U.S. today can expect to live to age 78, Americans who are currently 65 have an average life expectancy of 85. This is because, by age 65, individuals have already passed many of the risks that affect younger people, such as pregnancy complications or congenital conditions.

The survey also highlighted strong signs of well-being among older adults. Among respondents aged 65 and older:

• 60 percent said their mental health is excellent or very good.

• 66 percent said they feel optimistic about their lives most of the time.

• 70 percent reported having people they can turn to for support all or most of the time.

However, the study also identified common challenges. Among older adults:

• 24 percent said they experience mental confusion or memory loss at least sometimes.

• 35 percent reported feeling isolated from others at least sometimes.

• 22 percent said they struggle with everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or carrying groceries.

Income was also found to play a significant role in how older adults perceive their aging experience. Six in ten older adults in upper-income households said they are aging extremely or very well, compared to 51 percent of middle-income adults and 31 percent of lower-income adults.

Additionally, 40 percent of older adults said they feel they have a fair amount of control over their physical health and mobility as they age. In Los Angeles County, adults aged 65 and over make up about 16.1% of the population, according to recent U.S. Census data. As the county’s older adult population grows, the demand for services that support healthy aging increases — a trend reflected in long-term projections. The number of residents 65+ is expected to rise from 1.44 million in 2020 to more than 2.32 million by 2040, a 61% increase. Economic challenges are also significant among older Angelenos. A 2023 report by Justice in Aging found that 37% of older adults (65+) in L.A. County don’t have enough income to meet their basic needs, based on the Elder Index, a local cost-of-living measure. Additionally, many of these older adults rely on in-home support: 151,440 county seniors receive In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS).