Demographic Profile of Senior in Wayne County, Michigan

losses for both, though percentage losses remained in double-digits – between 14 and 15
percent. The decade of the 1990s brought the first significant divergence in these trends.
While the Region’s total population loss slowed to just under 7 percent, the rate of loss
for persons 60 and over accelerated to 22.8 percent – highest of any period. While
Region 1-A’s total population fell by just under 78,000 persons, more than half of this
loss (56 percent) was attributable to losses in the 60+ population, which fell by almost
44,000.
Table 2. Trends in Total and Elderly Population in Region 1-A, 1970 - 2000
Year
Population Totals, by Decade
Percent Change, Decade to Decade
Michigan Region 1-A Michigan Region 1-A
Total 60+ Total 60+ Total 60+ Total 60+
1970 8,875,083 1,089,225 1,653,065 270,940
1980 9,262,078 1,305,636 1,320,898 224,257 4.4% 19.9% -20.1% -17.2%
1990 9,295,297 1,510,397 1,130,565 191,424 0.4% 15.7% -14.4% -14.6%
2000 9,938,444 1,596,162 1,052,946 147,806 6.9% 5.7% -6.9% -22.8%
Table 3 presents a summary, by age category, of Region 1-A’s population 60+ in 1990
and 2000. While the overall 60+ population experienced a loss of 43,618, or 22.8
percent, the majority of this loss occurred in the 60-64 years and 65-74 years cohorts.
There were 31 percent fewer 60-64 year olds and 29 percent fewer 65-74 year olds in
Region 1-A in 2000 than a decade earlier. While losses were also experienced by the 75-
84 years and 85 years+ cohorts, these losses were considerably less – 6.5 and 10 percent,
respectively. The 55-59 year cohort experienced a very small loss over the decade, and
its total of 42,843 is almost 10,000 higher than the 60-64 year cohort just ahead of it.
Baring large losses due to death and/or migration, this group, coupled with the first wave
of “baby-boomers” that follow, will bring overall growth in the region’s 60+ population
in the decade to come.
Table 3. Trends in Selected Age Categories in Region 1-A, 1990 - 2000
Age Group
Region 1-A Totals 1990-2000 Change
1990 2000 Number Percent
45-54 years 99,251 130,599 31,348 31.6
55-59 years 43,703 42,843 -860 -2.0
60 years+ 191,424 147,806 -43,618 -22.8
60-64 years 47,885 32,999 -14,886 -31.1
65 years+ 143,539 114,807 -28,732 -20.0
65-74 years 84,819 60,385 -24,434 -28.8
75-84 years 44,376 41,475 -2,901 -6.5
85 years+ 14,344 12,947 -1,397 -9.7
A Demographic Profile of Seniors in PSA 1-A 6