Survey Finds Older Adults Have an Optimistic Outlook on Life; Expect Their Lives to Improve as They Get Older
WASHINGTON—According to a new AARP survey exploring the second half of life, most older adults have an optimistic outlook on life and expect their lives to improve as they get older. Nearly 9 in 10 are at least somewhat optimistic about their future, with half being extremely or very optimistic.
These and other findings are explored further in a groundbreaking new book, The Second Fifty, authored by Debra Whitman, AARP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer. The Second Fifty takes readers on a search for answers at a critical time in our history: by 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be age 65 or older, and by 2050, the U.S. is projected to have nearly 1 million centenarians.
“The Second Fifty provides a roadmap for navigating and celebrating the second half of life, emphasizing the importance of mindset to living well as we age,” said Debra Whitman. “Whether you are approaching 50, well into your later years, or caring for someone who is, The Second Fifty provides practical steps, grounded in research, to help us all create a better second half of life for ourselves and our loved ones.”
This new survey exploring the second half of life serves as an update to the original second half of life study released in June 2022, which inspired The Second Fifty.
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About AARP
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation’s largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/about-aarp/, or follow @AARP, @AARPenEspañol and @AARPadvocates on social media.
