America is getting older. Fast. Baby boomers -- the 76 million people born between 1946 and 1964 -- are rapidly hitting retirement age. The oldest boomers turned 65 last year, and for the next two decades, Americans will hit that age at a rate of 8,000 a day. By the time you finish reading this paragraph, another five boomers will have reached 65.
Governing's multiple-part series on aging in America continues this month with a new magazine feature (below) as well as additional stories, data and interactive content at governing.com/generations.
Poverty Among the Elderly Getting Harder to Ignore
Many elders are ill-prepared to shoulder the cost of retirement, and the gap between what seniors need to live on versus what they have might land squarely on state and local governments.