How do older adults spend
their entertainment dollars and leisure time? Drawing upon a number of government
and private sources, the new Statistical Abstract of the United States (see more
data in ICAA Research Review, No 1) indicates a desire for moderate activity and
intellectual pursuits.
The average annual expenditure for entertainment and reading
(1985-2004) for people ages 55 to 64 was $3,000; for ages 65 to 74 years, $2,037;
and for those 75 years and older, $1,125. Among the most frequent purchases
in 2004 for people 45 to 64 years were walking shoes (40.4%), golf club sets
(33.7%), rod/reel combination (31.8%), aerobic shoes (29%) and multipurpose
home gyms (20.5%). People 65 plus were most likely to purchase golf club sets
(11.8%) and rod/reel combination (7%).
For participation in arts and leisure activities, statistics
from 2002 reported the percent of people who attended at least one performance
or engaged at least once in an activity over the prior 12 months. Among other
activities, those ages 55 to 64 years most frequently read a book (48.9%), attended
an art/craft fair and festival (35.1%) and visited a historic site (31.6%) or
art museums/galleries (27.8%). As participants, they engaged in gardening (56.6%),
exercise program (48.4%), watching movies (46.6%), sewing (18.6%) and photography
(12.1%).
Ages 65 to 74 most often read a book (45.3%), attended an art/craft
fair and festival (31.1%) and visited a historic site (24.2%) or art museums/galleries
(23.4%). They engaged in gardening (57.2%), exercise program (47.0%), watching
movies (32.2%), sewing (20.5%) and photography (8.1%).
Those 75 and older read a book (36.7%), attended an art/craft
fair and festival (15.7%) and visited an art museums/galleries (13.4%) or historic
site (12.8%). The oldest adults engaged in gardening (47.9%), exercise program
(31.3%), home improvement/repair (22.1%), sewing (18%), photography (3.8%),
writing (3.7%) and choir/chorale (3.7%).
Source : http://www.icaa.cc
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