Random+Facts

@http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/index.php Seniors hold a special place in Florida, which has the nation’s largest proportion of residents age 60 and older.
 * Florida Department of Elder Affairs Website**

//FL state profile// http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us/english/pubs/stats/County_2009projection/counties/Florida.pdf

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs has been constitutionally designated by Florida voters to "serve as the primary state agency" responsible for administering human services programs for the elderly. The Department’s purpose, as set out in section 430.03, Florida Statutes, is to serve elders in all possible ways to help them keep their self-sufficiency and self-determination.

Florida seniors – those age 60 and older – make up 23 percent of the state’s population. One out of every 11 Floridians is age 75 or older, a share that is expected to increase to almost one in 10 by the year 2010. With more elders living within our borders than the populations of 17 other states and the District of Columbia combined, Florida's future is linked to the financial, health and physical security of its elder population.

@http://www.internetretailer.com/printArticle.asp?id=3755
 * Online article with some stats on the senior population being the next big consumers of online shopping and why they don't. It's a bit dated (written in 2001), but still informative.**

Highlights of Article: Senior Citizen Consumers - this market is currently underserved and under-rated, the lack of service may have more to do with the online approach of retailers and marketers and less to do with the group’s supposed timid response to the Internet.

There is a lot of information that suggests that the older set could be a great e-retail opportunity. According to the Census Bureau, 73.3 million Americans are over 50, representing 27% of the population. That will grow to 85.3 million by 2005. This group represents the single longest life stage with an average of 29 years. It provides 42% of all consumer demand and is worth $900 billion. Moreover, according to seniorplanet.com, a web portal for those 50 and older, adults 55 and over represent the fastest-growing sector of the computer-buying public; 38% of senior computer owners use the Internet and e-mail.

51% of Internet users age 45 and older use the Internet for comparison shopping. Of this group, 39% ultimately purchase something over the Internet. A more recent study by technology consulting firm Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) and Internet research firm Online Insight reports that the older population makes up the heavy-spenders group shopping on the Internet. The companies’ eBranding study, released in late 2000, shows that Internet users age 35 to 44 spend $100 or more online per month and that the older subset of that group spends $250 or more online, a trend likely to continue as that group ages.

One factor that may deter some older people from using the Internet to shop is that most web sites and technologies are not suited to them. Jeffrey Pepper, founder and CEO of ElderVision, a software and e-services company focusing on consumers 65 and older, says web and computer technology are not necessarily senior-friendly. For example, he says small graphics, small print, lots of flashing, dancing content and complex computer keyboards all inhibit seniors’ adoption of online shopping and Internet usage.

Pepper says most web sites do not aim to attract older people to shop. Even those that do, Pepper contends, are just copies of other portal web sites “with senior paint on them.”

@http://www.suddenlysenior.com/seniorfacts.html
 * A website with a bit more up to date facts on Senior and the web.**

Highlights of Article: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, adults 50+ represent 76 million people, 28% of the total U.S. population and 37% of the population 18+. Demographic trends associated with the aging of the baby boomer population, plus gains in longevity, will grow the 50+ market to over 106 million by 2015 when they will account for 45% of the adult population. Seniors are, and will become even more, a market, social and political force to be reckoned with and hence a very attractive community to a range of advertisers and marketing sponsors.

Freed from the constraints of raising a family and with more time of their own, mature consumers seek products, services, and activities that compliment their desire to live life to the fullest. The mature market has over $1.6 trillion in spending power and a net worth that's nearly twice the U.S. average.

- 55+ households are the fastest growing user segment to embrace computer technology - 22 million adults 50+ are now online, representing 28% of the 50+ population. *Source: www.onmagazine.com

Seniors are logging on in record numbers. In 2000, almost 14 million seniors, or 17% of all Americans aged 55+ were active Internet users. By 2002, the number of seniors online will grow to 22 million, accounting for 36% of all seniors. (According to eMarketer's recently released eRetail Report) 76% of seniors are online daily, compared to 68% of all online adults.

Of those surveyed, 66% aged 65 or older said the Internet had made their lives more interesting, and 46% in the same age group said the Net had improved their relationships (Source: Activmedia, 1998). This same study found that 40% of all U.S. adults over the age of 55 have a home computer, up from 29% in 1995. Of those, 70% surf the Web. Content areas preferred by Seniors - Weather 63%, Health & Medicine 40%, Investing 34%, Food & Cooking 29%.

@http://www.suddenlysenior.com/grayingofwebwsjarticle.html
 * Another website of stuff - through geared more for website marketing to Seniors**

Highlights of Article: The over-65 demographic is one of the fastest-growing on the Web, according to an analysis for The Wall Street Journal by Nielsen/NetRatings, an online research firm. The

number of seniors who logged on to the Internet from home almost doubled between March 2000 and March 2002, to about 6.8 million from 3.7 million. Seniors-who make up 12% of the overall U.S. population -still aren't proportionately represented online. But they're gaining fast. They now make up 6.3% of the online population, up from 4.3% two years ago. Seniors spend more time online than the average population-over 13 hours a month, compared with under 12 hours for the overall population-but don't surf as frequently.

@http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1006778 Highlights of Article: Baby boomers: At 56.7 million strong they constitute nearly 30% of the online population.
 * Dec, 2008 article**

Most authorities believe that boomers will remain online and engaged as long as their health and abilities permit, and recommend that technology providers begin preparing now to met their changing needs.

@http://blog.forrent.com/category/senior-housing-an-after-55-housing-and-resource-guide
 * Aug 26, article - growing need for better websites in the future as baby boomers age. Importance in need of creating better websites for the upcoming large online consumer who will need different set of accessibility needs.**

Highlights of Article: “Baby boomers aren’t technology Luddites. More than 60 % of them consume socially created content. You’ll find them leaving their opinions on Web sites and joining social networks.” - Jeremiah K. Owyang (@jowyang), researcher with Forrester Research

boomers now account for 35% of all Americans online.