Centenarians and baby boomers both report feeling younger than their
years, according to a new UnitedHealthcare survey. On average, the
centenarians surveyed say they feel just 83 years old, while 65-year-old
baby boomers say they feel 55 years old on average.
When asked how they feel about living to 100, centenarians’ top three
answers are “blessed” (36 percent), “happy” (31 percent) and “surprised”
(12 percent). Not one reports feeling sad or burdened; only 3 percent
say they feel lonely. And more than half (53 percent) live
independently, without the support of a caregiver to help them with
their daily activities.
In reflecting back on their lives, more than half of centenarians (53
percent) say they have accomplished everything they would like to do in
life, but nearly a third feel that 100 years just wasn’t enough. More
than 1 in 5 (22 percent) say they would like just a few more years; only
8 percent say it would take many more years to accomplish all of their
life goals.
The ninth annual UnitedHealthcare 100@100 survey polled 65-year-old baby
boomers in addition to 100-year-olds to examine how the attitudes and
lifestyles of Americans entering their retirement years compare to those
who hit that same age 35 years ago. UnitedHealthcare Medicare &
Retirement, the nation’s largest business dedicated to the health and
well-being needs of seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries, serves
more than 14,600 of the estimated 53,000 centenarians nationwide through
its portfolio of Medicare plans.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects the centenarian population will grow to
more than 600,000 by 2050. This year’s 100@100 survey finds nearly 3 in
10 baby boomers (29 percent) say they expect to hit the century mark. If
their expectations hold true, there could be more than 3.6 million
centenarians in 35 years’ time.1
Centenarians’ and Boomers’ Keys to Staying Well
in Body and Spirit
For centenarians, the keys to healthy aging are staying close to friends
and family (91 percent), maintaining a sense of independence (88
percent) and eating right (86 percent). Baby boomers’ top three keys to
healthy aging all have to do with mindset: They rank maintaining a sense
of independence first (87 percent), tied with laughing/having a sense of
humor. Staying close to family and friends (84 percent) comes in third
for the 65-year-olds.
Both groups report actively managing their physical health. Nearly 9 in
10 see their primary care physician for an annual exam (87 percent of
centenarians and 89 percent of baby boomers). More than 7 in 10 keep up
with their vaccines, such as flu shots and shingles vaccinations (73
percent of centenarians and 72 percent of baby boomers); similar
majorities also report getting their eyes examined regularly (71 percent
of centenarians and 76 percent of baby boomers).
“This year’s 100@100 survey paints an encouraging and exciting view of
longevity in the United States, which is especially significant since
the number of centenarians in this country is expected to swell in the
coming years,” said Rhonda Randall, D.O., chief medical officer of
UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions. “Both centenarians and baby boomers
report feeling more youthful than the number of birthdays they’ve had,
which is in part due to the proactive measures they’re taking to monitor
and improve their health. This is a good reminder for all Americans to
take charge of their health now so that they can enjoy life for many
years to come.”
In addition to getting preventive care, both centenarians and baby
boomers are staying active. The majority of centenarians and baby
boomers say they walk or hike at least once per week (56 percent and 74
percent, respectively). Approximately one-third of centenarians and baby
boomers say they do strength-training exercises every week (32 percent
and 37 percent, respectively). Other top physical activities include
indoor cardio exercise (23 percent of centenarians and 39 percent of
baby boomers) and gardening (21 percent of centenarians and 47 percent
of baby boomers).
Centenarians vs. Boomers on Nostalgia,
Milestones and “Turning Into Your Mother”
When asked what stage in life they remember most fondly, both
centenarians and baby boomers express the most nostalgia for their 30s
(20 percent and 24 percent, respectively). Baby boomers also reflect
fondly on their 20s (20 percent). But for some, life only got better
with age. Nearly 1 in 10 centenarians (9 percent) express the most
fondness for ages 70 and up, with 3 percent saying the best time in
their life is now.
Both centenarians and baby boomers say getting married and the birth of
a child are the two life milestones they remember most warmly, but they
prioritize the two differently. Baby boomers are more likely to choose
the birth of a child (32 percent) over getting married (20 percent), as
opposed to centenarians, who chose getting married (27 percent) over the
birth of a child (14 percent). Baby boomers’ next-favorite milestone is
the birth of a grandchild (12 percent); for centenarians, it is
completing their education and securing their first job (5 percent each).
Many Americans can relate to the concept of “turning into” their mother
or father with age – but that is not the case for the baby boomers and
centenarians surveyed. When asked at what age they first felt like they
“turned into” or “became” their mother or father, respondents’ most
popular answer is: It never happened (39 percent of centenarians and 48
percent of baby boomers). Of those who say they eventually “became”
their mother or father, centenarians are most likely to say it happened
in their 20s (15 percent), while baby boomers say it happened in their
50s (13 percent).
Baby Boomers More Pessimistic Than Centenarians
about America’s Future
More than half of baby boomers (58 percent) say the United States is
headed in the wrong direction, but just 36 percent of centenarians
agree. Baby boomers are also more likely than centenarians to say
Americans’ values have worsened during their lifetime (76 percent
compared with 45 percent of centenarians).
One thing that both groups agree on: The country seems to be in more
discord than ever. Despite having lived through several tense time
periods in the nation’s history, including the civil rights movement and
the Vietnam War, more than half of centenarians (59 percent) and nearly
three-fourths of baby boomers (73 percent) believe now is the most
politically divided the country has been in their lifetime.
More than half of centenarians (56 percent) and more than one-third of
baby boomers (39 percent) did not expect to see a black president in
their lifetime, but both groups anticipate another historic first in our
nation’s leadership: A majority of centenarians and baby boomers expect
to see a woman president in their lifetime (60 percent and 85 percent,
respectively).
For Centenarians, President Obama Unseats Betty
White at the Dinner Table
Betty White has been ousted from her long-time perch at the top of
centenarians’ list of favorite dinner guests. When asked which famous
people they would invite to a dinner party, the most popular choice for
centenarians is President Obama (71 percent). White topped centenarians’
lists for four years in a row – but this year, she comes in second with
66 percent of centenarians wanting to extend an invitation to her.
Hillary Clinton rounds out the top three, with 56 percent. The least
likely celebrity to get a dinner invitation from centenarians is Kanye
West (4 percent).
Betty White is baby boomers’ most sought-after dinner guest for the
third year in a row, with 83 percent saying they would invite her to a
dinner party. The next most popular choice is Tom Hanks (79 percent),
followed by Pope Francis (73 percent). Least likely to get an invite
from baby boomers: Miley Cyrus (12 percent) and Kanye West’s fiancée,
Kim Kardashian (10 percent).
For complete survey results, visit the news room on www.UHC.com.
About the Survey
Penn Schoen Berland interviewed 104 centenarians (U.S. residents who are
at least 100 years old, or who will turn 100 this year) and 302 baby
boomers (U.S. residents currently 65 years old, or who will turn 65 this
year) by telephone between Feb. 6 and Feb. 24, 2014. Centenarians were
identified using a list of pre-identified respondents in that age
category. Baby boomers were selected via a randomly dialed sample
derived from probability methods, with pre-identified age ranges. The
margin of sampling error for centenarians is plus or minus 9.8
percentage points for a result of 50 percent at the 95 percent
confidence level. The margin of sampling error for baby boomers is plus
or minus 5.66 percentage points for a result of 50 percent at the 95
percent confidence level. The margin of sampling error is higher and
varies for results based on sub-samples.
About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live
healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting
consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships
with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health
benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid
beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians
and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care
facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million
people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth
Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being
company.
1 Population data source: https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-09.pdf
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