The State of Aging in Portland study highlights historical, current, and projected trends related to older adults and the age structure in the city of Portland and the greater metropolitan area. Although the primary focus has been the city of Portland, we have also looked at trends with respect to broader metropolitan area, including the seven counties that include and surround Portland city. Some analyses have looked at the city, compared to its inner and outer suburbs, while others compare Portland to other mid-size cities in the U.S. These approaches are meant to highlight trends and to provide researcher a roadmap for future research. The study is intended to inform staff at the City of Portland, partners in the aging network, and other stakeholders interested in and involved with making our community a better place to grow up and grow old.
Although the original WHO conceptualization of age-friendly research defined the study population to be 60, we have generally used age 65 when discussing older adults in this report. However, we have used many different age groupings to analyze and display data; furthermore, we have examined trends from birth to death, in some sections, and understand the aging experience is not uniform and is influenced by many factors. This study and the partnerships that have made it possible, have emphasized equity through intersections with age, such as race and disability, both of which are critically important to understanding aging and health. Other factors such as gender, housing tenure, and household size and composition, and more have been examined.
Report: The State of Aging in Portland
Authors: Alan DeLaTorre, PhD, Richard Lycan, PhD, Margaret B. Neal, PhD
Learning Modules: The State of Aging in Portland
Accompanying this report are five learning modules in PowerPoint format that correspond to the sections of this report: (1) Population, (2) Race, (3) Disabilities, (4) Housing, and (5) Livability. Each of those learning modules should be viewed as a presentation as they are animated; those modules provide deeper analyses, as compared with this summary report.