Verified figures on older adults, family caregiving, falls, and home care. Updated for families, writers, and community organizations looking for a clear starting point.
Last updated: August 25, 2026
Home care decisions are usually personal, but they take place within larger changes: an aging population, more family caregiving, and growing pressure to help people remain safely connected to home and community. The statistics below bring together recent, public data from government agencies and established national research organizations.
Each figure links directly to its original source. Data years vary because public reports are released on different schedules.
61.2 million
The U.S. population age 65 and older grew 3.1% from 2023 to 2024, while the population under 18 declined slightly.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, June 202520%+
Georgia's Division of Aging Services says this group is expected to grow by nearly 34% from 2012 to 2030.
Source: Georgia Department of Human Services, March 202528%
Living arrangements affect how families think about check-ins, transportation, meals, household routines, and a plan for sudden changes.
Source: Administration for Community Living, 2023 Profile of Older Americans1 in 4
The CDC reports that more than 14 million older adults fall each year, making falls a leading cause of injury in this age group.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 202637%
That translates to an estimated 9 million fall injuries each year, according to the CDC.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, February 2026$169.4 billion
CMS reported that spending for services delivered by freestanding home health care agencies rose 10.2% in 2024.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2024 data released June 202663 million
AARP's national study describes the scale of unpaid help families provide to adults with health or functional needs.
Source: AARP, Caregiving in the U.S. 202549.5 billion
AARP's 2026 update values that care at about $1 trillion, showing why practical support and dependable coordination matter to families.
Source: AARP, Valuing the Invaluable 2026The statistics do not tell any one family what support is right. They do show why care plans often need more than a single conversation. A growing older population, the number of people living alone, and the scale of family caregiving all make it useful to think ahead about routines, backup support, safety, and communication.
For many families, the practical question is not whether a loved one can do everything alone or needs a complete change in living situation. It is where dependable help can make the biggest difference now, whether that is a safer return home after a hospital stay, help with everyday routines, a planned break for family caregivers, or more consistent presence at home.
OPA Home Care supports families across North Georgia with personal care, short-term recovery support, live-in care, and coordination around skilled nursing needs.
This page uses named public sources rather than estimates created by OPA Home Care. Every statistic above identifies its source and the latest available reporting date used here.
Primary public sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Department of Human Services, Administration for Community Living, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
National research sources: AARP's Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 and Valuing the Invaluable 2026 reports.
Update cadence: Reviewed monthly for new source releases and refreshed sooner when a key public figure changes.
OPA Home Care. “Home Care and Aging in Place Statistics.” Updated August 25, 2026. Accessed [date].
When quoting a figure, please link to the individual source listed with that statistic.
