COM 0521.006 2002-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Japanese seniors represent over 60% of the old -old age group & mostly found in South Hilo. Profile of County of llawaii's Older Population of PSA4. Caucasians accounts for 31.55 percent of the total population and Filipinos represents 9.11 percent. If Portuguese older adults are classified as a single ethnic group, it is possible that Japanese older individuals constitute the largest ethnic group representation. The Japanese share of 30.32% among the older population is three times their representation in Hawaii County's total population of 13.55'% in 2000. Sixty three percent of Japanese older adults reside in the South Hilo district and has the highest distribution (49%) in the district. The Japanese elderly also represents about 42% of the total number of 85 years old and over in PSA4. Fifty three percent of Filipino elderly are found in South Hilo and Puna districts. Caucasian older adults are highly concentrated in North Kona accounting for 63.06% of the total 60+ population in the district. With the exception of South and North Hilo, Caucasian seniors 60+ also ranked highest in all other districts of the Big Island. Native Hawaiian older adults averaged a 5.97% representation in all Hawaii County districts with the highest number in South Hilo. The US census did not identify any older Native Hawaiian in North Hilo. Small numbers of Chinese and Korean older individuals were identified in South Hilo, Kohala, Puna and North Kona districts. Interestingly, Japanese elders represented over 60% of the oldest -old (85+ and over) age group and predominantly found in the South Hilo district of PSA4. The Hawaii County Office of Aging (fICOA) Senior Citizen information System (SCIS) database which consists of approximately 73% of the county's total elderly population confirms the census figures showing Japanese, Caucasians and Filipinos as the first, second and third respective largest ethnic aging populations on the island. Portuguese older adults are fourth in number (6.8%) in the HCOA SCIS database. Socioeconomic Characteristics of PSA4's 60 plus Sex Ratio, Marital Status and Living Arrangement The latest census data reflects that as population ages, the ratio of male to female decreases. This decrease in male to female ratio begins to become evident in the 55 to 59 age group. The male to female ratio of older individuals 60+ in Hawaii County is 88.9 and slightly higher than the 82.6 male to female ratio for the State's older population. The present lower male/female ratio is a complete reversal of the male/female ratio of PSA4 during the 1970 and 1980 censuses when male older adults outnumbered female older adults. This present low male to female ratio is an affirmation of a common stage in later adult life where females outlive males resulting to a considerable number of Page -4-ojll