Older women

Women live an average of 7 years longer than men. Life expectancy is expected to continue to increase into the next century, with higher gains for women than men. In 1998, there were 20.3 million women over age 65 and 14.3 million men [2]. By the year 2030, the proportion of Americans over age 65 is expected to double, and the number living over age 85 will triple [73]. Projections indicate that 7 out of 10 baby boom wives will outlive their husbands-generally by 15 to 20 years [74].

Due to their greater longevity, women run a greater risk than men of suffering from the chronic disorders and disabilities that increase with age such as cancer, obesity, arthritis, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

Older women are also more likely than older men to live in poverty. Nearly three-fourths of the Nation's elderly poor are women. Moreover, women spend more of their disposable income-up to 25 percent-on out of pocket health care expenses [73]. Two-thirds of older women do not take advantage of preventive screening services like mammography due to the cost, the perception that they do not need these services, or because their physician does not recommend them [75].

There are also promising trends for the emerging population of older women. Disability rates are falling dramatically, and women are attaining greater education and economic independence. If women actively engage in healthy behaviors, the twenty-first century will see them enjoy lives that are not only longer, but indeed healthier.

Incarcerated women

Although women account for only 6.5% of all prisoners nationwide, they are the fastest growing incarcerated population in the United States. During 1998, the number of women under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities reached a total of 84,427 outpacing the rise in the number of men for the third consecutive year76. In addition, at midyear 1998, 63,791 women were held daily in jails [77] and 737,958 female juvenile arrest were made [78].

Women in prison have health needs that are different from men's resulting from their relatively complex reproductive systems, status as pregnant women and mothers, responsibility for minor children, increased high risk illicit drug behavior, increased rates of HIV positivity, and history of physical and sexual abuse [79].