Older adults prefer reading and activities that require walking

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%).