Why so few older Americans get counseling – and how it could help

Changes that often accompany later life can raise questions and concerns that people may explore in counseling or therapy. Space_Cat/iStock via Getty Images

People are living longer, reshaping what it means to grow old.

By the late 2060s, an estimated 2.5 billion people worldwide will be age 60 or older – more than the number of people under 18. The population age 80 and older is expected to grow even faster, more than tripling between 2023 and 2060 to about 545 million.