What it’s Like to be 100 Years Old, in 10 Charts

Interesting findings from two studies on centenarians.

Interesting post from Lenny Bernstein at Washington Post today on Centenarian Insights:

So you want to live to 100? Some might say be careful what you wish for. But this data, culled from two recent reports, shows fairly high quality of life for the country’s 55,000 centenarians, a population that is expected to grow rapidly.

Not surprisingly, the vast majority of 100-year-olds (81 percent) are women.  Also not surprisingly, most are widowed.

Source: U.S. Census

Source: U.S. Census

A big chunk of centenarians (43 percent) never finished high school. A plurality of Baby Boomers (34 percent) did.

Source: U.S. Census

Source: U.S. Census

The health insurance company United Healthcare recently surveyed 104 centenarians (and 302 Boomers ages 65 and older) to probe a little more deeply.  The small sample of 100-year-0lds is less than ideal, but there’s some interesting info here. For example, only 3 percent said they were lonely, sad or burdened.

sadThey remember their 30s most fondly …

Source: United Healthcare

Source: United Healthcare

Feel like they’re only 83 …

Would most like to have dinner with President Obama. ( Boomers name Betty White !?!) …

Source: United Healthcare

Source: United Healthcare

And, remarkably, don’t have daily caregivers.

caregiver

They’ve heard of Facebook and Twitter, but not Pinterest:

socialmedia

Feel they’ve accomplished what they wanted to.

Source United Healthcare

Source: United Healthcare

And attribute their longevity to staying close to family and friends:

friends