Image of male nurse pushing senior woman in a wheelchair in nursing facility

A quick glance at the oldest baby boomers: They’ve beenmarried only once; they have 2.4 children average; and conservatives outnumberliberals by two to one.

So says the MetLife Mature Market Institute, whichrecently conducted “Boomers Ready to Launch,” a profile of the firstbaby boomers, who turn 62 this year. Some other notable facts: The majority(77%) of boomers say they are in good to excellent health; their net worth(excluding home value) averages $257,800; and their average annual income isapproximately $71,400. One in five have children living with them. 

Baby boomers pose a looming challenge for the long-termcare field because of their size as a population and their likelihood of livinglonger than previous generations. A worsening nursing shortage in nursing homesthreatens to hurt resident care in coming years.