10,000 Americans Turn 65 Every Day; Why It Matters

As more people age, communities are preparing for the growing need for services, affordable housing, and transportation.

1 minute read

June 16, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Elderly woman in pink shirt sitting at table on porch across from elderly man in white shirt. A pot of pink flowers sits on the table.

Iryna Dincer / Adobe Stock

With 10,000 Americans turning 65 every day, governments are scrambling to ensure that older adults will have access to daily needs, healthcare, and safe, affordable housing and have the opportunity to ‘age in place’ in their own communities.

According to an article by Susan Miller in Route Fifty, “the number of people 65 years old or older makes up 18% of the population today. That percentage will swell to 23% by 2054.” This growing proportion of older adults will require more long-term care services and assistance with transportation.

This month, the federal government released a report outlining recommendations for “advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities.” The report “details the web of services an aging society will need beyond financial security, safe housing and adequate health care, such as accessible communities, age-friendly workplaces and high-quality, long-term services and supports.”

States like Pennsylvania and New Jersey are developing their own plans, prioritizing areas such as affordability, aging in place, and safe and convenient transportation. “The New Jersey Human Services Department is dedicating $5.5 million to launch an age-friendly community grant program later this year.”

Friday, June 7, 2024 in Route Fifty

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

1 hour ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

2 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

3 hours ago - ASLA The Dirt