North Carolina is Getting Older
North Carolina is experiencing a huge demographic shift. In 2018, for the first time in recorded history, we had more people age 60+ than under 18 living in the state. Currently, there are already more older adults than children in more than 86 of our counties.
Aging Doesn’t Look The Same
We are viewing and experiencing aging in entirely different ways than past generations. Instead of slowing down and withdrawing, we are continuing to actively interact with and contribute to our professions, neighborhoods, families and much more.
North Carolinians 60 and over are proudly proclaiming, “I’m still here,” and are looking to our state to provide helpful resources and assistance to make their lives even better.
Share your thoughts about aging in NC.
- In 2022, 1.9 million of NC’s 11 million people were age 65+. By 2042, this will increase 48% to 2.8 million. The age 85+ population is expected to grow by 114% during the same period.
- Right now, 1 in 6 North Carolinians are aged 65+. Next year, this should change to 1 in 5.
- NC ranks 9th nationally in both overall population and 65+ population.
- Many older adults are immigrating to NC. Over 47,000 people 60+ from other states or countries chose to make NC their home in 2022.
- 1 in 10 adults 65+ live below poverty.
- 17% of adults 65+ participate in the labor force.
- 97% of adults 65+ live in private households and 27% of adults 65+ live alone.
- 369 thousand unpaid caregivers in NC provide 533 million hours or $9.1 billion worth of care.
We Are Responding
NC’s demographic changes have caught the attention of many state leaders including Governor Roy Cooper, who on May 2, 2023, issued Executive Order 280. This order established NC’s commitment to building an age-friendly state and called for a government-wide approach to identify solutions that can guide changes at the state level and ensure that North Carolina is ready to meet the needs of its rapidly aging population.
This planning initiative, known as All Ages, All Stages NC, is both timely and imperative. Resulting recommendations will help guide state leaders as they work to meet the needs of a changing North Carolina for years to come.
Get Involved
DHHS and our partners need your help to make our vision of an age-friendly NC a reality! Provide the info above to share input and stay up to date!
Four Goals and 2024-2026 Priorities
- Priority 1: Home and Community-Based Services
- Data Modernization (ex: Replace ARMS)
- Explore new funding streams
- Review and optimize HCCBG
- Priority 2: Family Caregiver Support
- Blend federal and state funding for HCBS
- Enhance family leave requirements and promote family-friendly workplaces
- Explore state taxes for caregiver expenses
- Secure funding for NC Caregiver Portal
- Streamline caregiver referrals (211, NCCARE360)
- Priority 3: Housing
- Take executive action to address challenges
- Increase funding for housing rehab, repair, and modification
- Increase incentives for development and repair of housing
- Increase income eligibility and exemption amounts for tax exemption/deferral programs
- Encourage universal design
- Promote aging in place
- Priority 4: Adult Protective Services
- Implement APS statutory changes
- Allocate state funding to county DSS for APS
- Establish pilot alternative protective response program
- Priority 5: Age-friendly State and Communities
- Assist age-friendly efforts
- Foster culture of healthy living
- Strengthen collaborations to address isolation
- Address digital equity
- Promote model healthcare programs
- Promote innovation in transportation
- Address challenges related to overcoming food insecurity
- Educate on fraud prevention and consumer protection
- Enhance 211 and NCCARE360
- Reestablish legislative study commission on aging
- Priority 6: Long-term Services and Supports
- Convene task force to address delivery and financing
- Educate consumers on long-term care costs
- Address challenges to providing continuum of LTSS
- Priority 7: Workforce
- Ensure skilled aging workforce
- Support current workforce studies
- Expand financial incentives for healthcare careers and address wage disparities
- Expand consumer-directed options
- Priority 8: Potential of All Older Adults
- Expand employment and intergenerational opportunities
- Promote retirement savings
- Address ageism
- Reduce health insurance costs
- Explore free tuition benefits
- Strengthen and expand volunteer engagement opportunities
- Promote financial literacy and awareness of benefits/services
- Reestablish and expand PREPARE pre-retirement program