Our oldest citizens:
The number of Americans living to be 100 years old and beyond is growing. Between the years of 1980 and 2010, the number has grown by 65%. In 2010 the number of centenarians was 53,364. The majority of centenarians in the U.S. (83%) are women. 
Here are some of the other characteristics of this interesting group of people.
- 30% live at home
- 20 – 25% are cognitively intact
- 60 – 70% are disabled
- 12% are African-American
- 6% are Hispanic
- 2.5% are Asian-American
California is the state with the highest number of centenarians at 5,921. Alaska has the fewest at 40. If you happen to be a Caucasian woman living in the Northeast or the Midwest region of the U.S., you have the greatest chance of living to be 100 years old. Most centenarians live in urban areas, with the majority of male centenarians living in a household with other people. Over a third of female centenarians reportedly live in an assisted living community.
When centenarians are asked how people can live a long life, the number one answer is having an optimistic attitude. The Centenarian Study, a long-term study by the University of Georgia, credits the following factors for the long lives of centenarians:
- good health habits
- high cognition levels
- strong social support systems
Centenarian studies are important to our understanding of the quality of life for seniors. We can learn a lot about healthy aging and maybe even extending life expectancy by knowing more about how these elders have lived so long.
Learn more about Harmony Senior Homes, and Contact Us for a tour of one of our homes.