Introduction
According to the U.S. Administration on Aging, the number of centenarians in the United States, 83 percent of whom are women, will double in the next ten years.  In 2001, women accounted for 70 percent of the population age 85 and older – currently the fastest growing segment of the older American population.  Despite this, old age, and particularly extreme old age, holds many mysteries.  Science is just beginning to map the factors that contribute to longevity.  Our understanding of the genetic, environmental, social, economic, and behavioral contributors to health and wellness is intensifying as the pool of older individuals expands.

This issue brief focuses on the responses of the oldest cohort of women participating in the 2002 National Poll of Women 50+ conducted by the National Center on Women and Aging (NCWA).  NCWA surveyed 1,001 women across the country to gain a better understanding of their experiences, opinions and attitudes and to provide benchmark data that will enable future research and analysis of changes and trends among this important population.  The responses of the women age 80 and older offer unique insight into the health, financial status, and mindset of these inspiring women.

Contents:
Women 80+ — Profile
Women 80+ — Defying Stereotypes

Series Home Page

Other titles in the series...
Women of Color
Work Status:  Staying Employed, Finding a Job
Savers & Non-Savers:  Different Expectations, Different Destinies
Marital Status:  Does Marriage Make Women’s Later Years Brighter?
How Do Physical Limitations Affect Expectations About Aging?