A new brief from the Pennsylvania Population Network (PPN) explores differences in ambulatory and cognition challenges for Pennsylvanians by age group and sex.
Authored by Alexis R. Santos, SSRI cofund and assistant professor of human development and family studies, and Raeven Faye Chandler, director of the PPN and assistant research professor of rural sociology, the brief points out that by 2030, over 1 in 5 Pennsylvanian’s are expected to be 65 or older and our older adult dependency ratio is expected to increase to 42.4 (PaSDC 2005). Higher dependency ratios reflect a smaller proportion of the population in prime working ages and engaged in the labor market, and a larger proportion of the population likely to be economically dependent on public sources of support.
The PPN and all associated research is made possible by a Penn State strategic initiative seed grant funded by the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost.