A quick glance at the oldest baby boomers: They've been
married only once; they have 2.4 children average; and conservatives outnumber
liberals by two to one.
So says the MetLife Mature Market Institute, which
recently conducted "Boomers Ready to Launch," a profile of the first
baby 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 is
approximately $71,400. One in five have children living with them.
Baby boomers pose a looming challenge for the long-term
care field because of their size as a population and their likelihood of living
longer than previous generations. A worsening nursing shortage in nursing homes
threatens to hurt resident care in coming years.