Seniors

Longevity expectations can mislead or inform.  Today’s life expectancy chart for 2026 notes an increase of life expectancy at birth to 79.  Of course, that is a silly number to mention among the 65+ population which can expect to live into their mid-80s. And the physical condition they are in varies all over the map. You notice the very frail in their 80s walking carefully with a cane or walker.  You also see people in their late 80s jumping up and down in a water aerobics class. Or people in their 70s and beyond lifting heavy weights. But individuals with Parkinson's or arthritis can still live into their 80s, although their mobility and health may be compromised. 

Living alone and fall risk.  Today 43% of women aged 75+ live alone – that is, in their own home versus a senior living community. They are more likely to live alone than in other countries.  However, only 9 percent use a personal emergency response device, with no change over the past few years. And for those devices, the key customer is the adult child. And this is despite fall risk which grows with age, though the recent Senate initiative does not differentiate among older age groups.

Water aerobics – an exercise beloved by older women.  There may be some men that enjoy it too, though classes in a nearby gym I see largely attended by older women.  Many (most?) of whom are likely Silver Sneakers members with free gym membership – with the gym reimbursed by Medicare Advantage programs.  Looking around a large class, most women appear to be older than 65, some arriving with a walker, some getting into the pool with some difficulty.  But once they are in the water, they are all smiles.  The water and the atmosphere are both perfect temperatures – welcoming to all. And the bonus?

Consider this gloomy WSJ article about aging. More Americans Are Aging Alone, Who Will Take Care of Them? The premise? “More than 16 million people aged 65 and older in the U.S. live alone. That represents 28% of that age group, almost triple the share in 1950." Whoa!  First of all 20% of the 65+ population is working today. Why? Life expectancy at 65 has risen to the mid-eighties for both women and men, compared to late 60’s, early 70’s in 1950. And a shrinking percentage of Americans live in rural areas today, according to Pew Research. While the article is a compelling description of a heroic organization of underpaid workers serving an Appalachian community, mapping the article to the reality of older adults in the United States today is disingenuous.

Some have said the concept of ‘AgeTech’ can be a bit depressing.  It is especially bleak when you look at the startup portfolio which aggregates a variety of tech categories to help older adults in their later years, Making Aging Easier for Everyone, and includes offerings that tackle deficits like issues with mobility, fall detection/prevention, caregiving, Alzheimer’s, vision, and many aspects of health. AgeTech tools include a few for the heavily-invested category of Digital Health ($3 Billion in Q1 2025).  All these products, all very useful, fill gaps in the general consumer market.  Consumer product designers tend not to start the day thinking about the older adult as a market segment. Instead, older adults are segmented into their roles -- older adults are the care recipients (B2B healthcare and senior living), as well as individuals with disabilities and needs for greater accessibility and/or services.  All useful.