G
Dalton Current
Bulldog CurrentDalton: Carpet Capital of the World

Advertisement · Why this ad?

Community

Why America’s aging population is reshaping the biohazard cleanup industry

Sofia Ramirez
Sports Reporter · Friday, November 13, 2026 at 3:30 PM · 4 min read
Why America’s aging population is reshaping the biohazard cleanup industry — Dalton Community news
Aging happens one person and one family at a time, and America now has a much larger older population than it did two decades ago. U.S. Census Bureau data show that 61.2 million Americans were 65 or older in 2024 , representing 18% of the population. That number is expected to keep growing: According to the Population Reference Bureau’s Fact Sheet: Aging in the United States , the population age 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050. kAmx? a__c[ E92E 286 8C@FA 244@F?E65 7@C `a]cT @7 E96 4@F?ECJ[ @C 23@FE @?6 :? 6:89E p>6C:42?D[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 ?62C=J @?6 :? 7:G6 E@52J] qC@@<:?8D x?DE:EFE:@? 56>@8C2A96C (:==:2> w] uC6J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]93D]65F^3:8D^9@H\2?\28:?8\2>6C:42\7@C46D\4@>A2?:6D\E@\C6E9:?<\6G6CJE9:?8QmE@=5 w2CG2C5 qFD:?6DD $49@@=’D x?DE:EFE6 7@C qFD:?6DD :? v=@32= $@4:6EJk^2m E92E E96 4@F?ECJ “:D 28:?8 C2A:5=J[ 2?5 E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ 27764E 6G6CJE9:?8]”k^Am kAmp?5 E96 D:K6 @7 E92E @=56C A@AF=2E:@? 364@>6D 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E H96? =@@<:?8 2E 9@H >2?J A6@A=6 =:G6 2=@?6] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 &]$] r6?DFD qFC62F’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]46?DFD]8@G^=:3C2CJ^DE@C:6D^a_ac^_d^=:G:?8\2CC2?86>6?ED]9E>=Qm{:G:?8 pCC2?86>6?ED '2C:65 p4C@DD p86 vC@FADk^2m[ ?62C=J E9C66 :? `_ 25F=ED 286 ed 2?5 @=56C =:G65 2=@?6 :? a_aa] &D:?8 2 5:776C6?E >62DFC6[ !6H #6D62C49 r6?E6C 7@F?5 E92E E96 D92C6 @7 @=56C 25F=ED =:G:?8 2=@?6 H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A6HC6D62C49]@C8^D9@CE\C625D^a_ad^`a^_c^2\D>2==6C\D92C6\@7\@=56C\FD\25F=ED\=:G6\2=@?6\E@52J\E92?\:?\`hh_^QmaeT :? a_abk^2m] *6E 2 D>2==6C D92C6 @7 2 >F49 =2C86C A@AF=2E:@? DE:== 255D FA E@ C@F89=J `e >:==:@? A6@A=6 =:G:?8 3J E96>D6=G6D]k^Am kAmu@C @=56C 25F=ED H9@ =:G6 2=@?6[ =@?8 DEC6E496D H:E9@FE 4@?E24E >62? ?@ @?6 6=D6 :D E96C6 E@ ?@E:46 2? :==?6DD @C :?;FCJ] %9:D =625D E@ 42D6D H96C6 =:>:E65 4@?E24E 56=2J65 E96 5:D4@G6CJ @7 2 962=E9 6>6C86?4J @C 562E9]k^Am kAm(9:=6 ?@ ?2E:@?2= DJDE6> EC24:==:@?D @7 @=56C p>6C:42?D 2C6 DA6?5:?8 E96:C =2E6C J62CD 2E 9@>6[ >2<:?8 :?56A6?56?E =:G:?8 2? :>A@CE2?E A2CE @7 9@H E96 4@F?ECJ 286D] q6=@H[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]EC2F>2D6CG:46D]4@>^Qm%C2F>2 $6CG:46Dk^2m 6IA=2:?D 9@H E9:D :>A24ED E96 3:@92K2C5 4=62?FA :?5FDECJ]k^Am k9bm%96 #:D6 @7 p8:?8 :? !=246k^9bm kAm|@DE p>6C:42?D @G6C d_ H2?E E@ DE2J C:89E H96C6 E96J 2C6 2D E96J 8C@H @=56C] pp#!’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22CA]@C8^9@>6\=:G:?8^9@>6\4@>>F?:EJ\AC676C6?46D\DFCG6J\a_ac^Qma_ac w@>6 2?5 r@>>F?:EJ !C676C6?46D $FCG6Jk^2m 7@F?5 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22CA]@C8^AC:^E@A:4D^=:G23=6\4@>>F?:E:6D^9@FD:?8^a_ac\9@>6\4@>>F?:EJ\AC676C6?46D^QmfdT @7 25F=ED 286 d_ 2?5 @=56C H2?E E@ C6>2:? :? E96:C 4FCC6?E 9@>6k^2m 2D =@?8 2D A@DD:3=6[ H9:=6 fbT 9@A6 E@ DE2J :? E96:C 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am kAmtIA6CED 42== E9:D 28:?8 :? A=246[ 2 H2J @7 8C@H:?8 @=56C 2E 9@>6 H9:=6 <66A:?8 :?56A6?56?46] &rw62=E9 D@4:2= H@C<6C t>:=J y@9?D@? D2:5 9@>6 @776CD k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]F4962=E9]@C8^E@52J^25G:46\7@C\28:?8\:?\A=246\D276=J\DE2J\:?\J@FC\9@>6\2D\=@?8\2D\A@DD:3=6^Qm4@>7@CE 2?5 2 72>:=:2C 9:DE@CJk^2m[ 2?5 DE2J:?8 E96C6 42? 96=A @=56C 25F=ED <66A 2 D6?D6 @7 4@?EC@= H96? E96J ?665 DFAA@CE] p?5 <66A:?8 E92E 4@?EC@= 2=D@ 56A6?5D @? H96E96C DE2J:?8 9@>6 C6>2:?D 277@C523=6]k^Am kAmw@FD:?8 4@DED 2C6 2 >2;@C C62D@? D@>6 @=56C 25F=ED 6IA64E E96J H:== 6G6?EF2==J 92G6 E@ >@G6[ H:E9 pp#! 7:?5:?8 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]22CA]@C8^AC6DD^C6=62D6D^a_ac\`a\`_\?6H\22CA\C6A@CE\>2;@C:EJ\25F=ED\d_\A=FD\286\A=246\A@=:4:6D\4@>>F?:E:6D\42E49\FA]9E>=Qmf`T A@:?E E@ C6?E @C >@CE8286 4@DED 2?5 e_T E@ 9@>6 >2:?E6?2?46]k^2mk^Am kAmtG6? :7 E96J C6249 2 A@:?E H96C6 E96J ?665 C68F=2C 96=A[ >2?J H@F=5 DE:== AC676C E@ C6>2:? 2E 9@>6] !6H #6D62C49 r6?E6C 7@F?5 E92E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]A6HC6D62C49]@C8^D9@CE\C625D^a_ae^_a^ae^>@DE\@=56C\25F=ED\H9@\=:G6\2E\9@>6\H2?E\E@\286\:?\A=246\3FE\E96J\2C6?E\6?E:C6=J\4@?7:56?E\E96J==\86E\E@^Qme_Tk^2m @7 @=56C 25F=ED =:G:?8 2E 9@>6 H:E9@FE 2 42C68:G6C H@F=5 H2?E E@ DE2J 2?5 C646:G6 42C6 E96C6 :7 E96J 4@F=5 ?@ =@?86C >2?286 @? E96:C @H?]k^Am kAmr9@@D:?8 E@ C646:G6 42C6 2E 9@>6 AC6D6CG6D :?56A6?56?46[ 3FE :E 2=D@ 492?86D 9@H @7E6? D@>6 @=56C 25F=ED :?E6C24E H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6 5FC:?8 6G6CJ52J =:76]k^Am k9bm%96 vC@H:?8 #62=:EJ @7 $@4:2= xD@=2E:@? p>@?8 ~=56C p5F=EDk^9bm kAmq@E9 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? 2?5 =@?6=:?6DD 27764E H6==\36:?8[ 3FE 6IA6CED 5C2H 2? :>A@CE2?E 5:DE:?4E:@? 36EH66? E96>] {@?6=:?6DD 46?E6CD @? 9@H 2 A6CD@? 766=D[ H9:=6 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? C676CD E@ 92G:?8 =:EE=6 C68F=2C 4@?E24E @C 4@??64E:@? H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6]k^Am kAmp>@?8 @=56C 25F=ED[ D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? :D 4@>>@? 6?@F89 E@ 27764E 2 =2C86 D92C6 @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@?] %96 }2E:@?2= p4256>:6D @7 $4:6?46D[ t?8:?66C:?8[ 2?5 |65:4:?6 6DE:>2E6D E92E 2AAC@I:>2E6=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^3@@>F?:EJ\5H6==:?8 p>6C:42?Dk^2m 286 ed 2?5 @=56C 2C6 D@4:2==J :D@=2E65] xED C6A@CE[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?43:]?=>]?:9]8@G^3@@k^2m[ 2=D@ 4:E6D C6D62C49 7:?5:?8 E92E cbT @7 25F=ED 286 e_ 2?5 @=56C C6A@CE 766=:?8 =@?6=J]k^Am kAm%96 962=E9 4@?46C?D E:65 E@ E92E =24< @7 4@??64E:@? 92G6 2=D@ 5C2H? 8C62E6C 2EE6?E:@?] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>:49:82?>65:4:?6]@C8^962=E9\=23^`\b\@=56C\25F=ED\DE:==\6IA6C:6?46\=@?6=:?6DD\2?5\:D@=2E:@?Qm&?:G6CD:EJ @7 |:49:82? A9JD:4:2? sC] !C66E: |2=2?:k^2m 92D D2:5 962=E9 6IA6CED ?@H 92G6 2 36EE6C F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 9@H =@?6=:?6DD 2?5 :D@=2E:@? 27764E A6@A=6 2D E96J 286]k^Am kAm~?6 C62D@? 962=E9 6IA6CED E2<6 D@4:2= :D@=2E:@? D@ D6C:@FD=J 4@>6D 7C@> C6D62C49 C6G:6H65 3J E96 }2E:@?2= p4256>:6D[ H9:49 2DD@4:2E6D :E H:E9 2 9:896C C:D< @7 AC6>2EFC6 562E9 2?5 2AAC@I:>2E6=J 2 d_T 9:896C C:D< @7 56G6=@A:?8 56>6?E:2]k^Am k9bm(9J &?2EE6?565 s62E9D pC6 q64@>:?8 |@C6 r@>>@?k^9bm kAm!6C92AD E96 3:886DE 4@?46C? H:E9 p>6C:42?D 8C@H:?8 @=5 2=@?6 :D E92E D@>6 @7 E96> 2=D@ 5:6 2=@?6] %92E 4@?46C? 92D 8C@H?[ H:E9 D@>6 A9JD:4:2?D D66:?8 >@C6 @=56C A2E:6?ED 2AAC@249 E96 6?5 @7 =:76 H:E9@FE 4=@D6 72>:=J @C 7C:6?5D ?62C3J]k^Am kAmsC] y2:C@? y@9?D@?[ >65:42= 5:C64E@C @7 9@DA:46 2?5 A2==:2E:G6 42C6 7@C !C6D3JE6C:2? w62=E942C6 $6CG:46D[ D2:5 4=:?:4:2?D 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^<77962=E9?6HD]@C8^28:?8^28:?8\762C\5J:?8\2=@?6\D:?8=6\49:=5=6DD\H:5@H9@@5\5:G@C46^nFE>0D@FC46l492E8AE]4@>Qm2=H2JD D66? A2E:6?ED H9@ H6C6 6DD6?E:2==J 2=@?6 ?62C E96 6?5 @7 =:76k^2m[ 3FE “E96J H6C6?’E 2D 4@>>@? 2D E96J 2C6 ?@H]”k^Am kAmy@9?D@?’D @3D6CG2E:@? 2=D@ 3C:?8D 2EE6?E:@? E@ H92E AC@76DD:@?2=D C676C E@ 2D 2? F?2EE6?565 562E9[ H96? D@>6@?6 5:6D H:E9@FE 2?@E96C A6CD@? @C >65:42= AC@G:56C AC6D6?E 2?5 E96 562E9 :D ?@E 5:D4@G6C65 C:89E 2H2J]k^Am kAmtG6? H:E9 8C@H:?8 4@?46C? 2C@F?5 5J:?8 2=@?6[ ?2E:@?2= 52E2 5@ ?@E AC@G:56 2 C6=:23=6 4@F?E D9@H:?8 H96E96C F?2EE6?565 562E9D E96>D6=G6D 2C6 C:D:?8] qFE H92E C6D62C496CD 42? 5@4F>6?E >@C6 4=62C=J 2C6 E96 4:C4F>DE2?46D E92E 56=2J 5:D4@G6CJ]k^Am kAmrsr 52E2 D9@H >@C6 E92? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]454]8@G^72==D^52E2\C6D62C49^724ED\DE2ED^:?56I]9E>=Qm@?6 :? 7@FC @=56C 25F=ED C6A@CE 72==:?8 6249 J62Ck^2m[ 2?5 2 72== 2E 9@>6 H:E9 ?@3@5J 6=D6 AC6D6?E =62G6D ?@ @?6 E@ C6DA@?5 C:89E 2H2J]k^Am kAm#68F=2C 4@?E24E :D H92E D9@CE6?D E92E H2:E[ H9:=6 :ED 23D6?46 =62G6D >@C6 E:>6 367@C6 D@>6@?6 C62=:K6D D@>6E9:?8 :D HC@?8] p?5 :7 E96 6>6C86?4J :D 72E2=[ E96 D2>6 56=2J 42? A@DEA@?6 5:D4@G6CJ 2?5 =62G6 72>:=:6D 724:?8 2 ?6H D6E @7 962=E9 2?5 D276EJ 4@?46C?D]k^Am k9bm%96 !F3=:4 w62=E9 r92==6?86D %92E u@==@Hk^9bm kAm%96 C62=:EJ @7 2? F?2EE6?565 562E9 3C:?8D AF3=:4 962=E9 AC@3=6>D E92E >@DE 72>:=:6D ?6G6C 6IA64E65 E@ D@=G6] %96 7:CDE @7 E9@D6 AC@3=6>D :D :?D:56 E96 9@>6[ H96C6 564@>A@D:E:@? 27764ED ?62C3J >2E6C:2=D 2?5 =62G6D 4@?5:E:@?D E92E C68F=2C 9@FD69@=5 4=62?:?8 42??@E D276=J 255C6DD]k^Am kAmu2465 H:E9 E9@D6 C:D:=:6D 92G6 E@ 564:56 H9@ D9@F=5 6?E6C E96 9@>6 2?5 H92E D9@F=5 36 =67E E@ EC2:?65 AC@76DD:@?2=D] p?5 E96 E:>:?8 >2<6D E9@D6 564:D:@?D 6DA64:2==J 92C5[ D:?46 72>:=:6D 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ AC@E64E E96:C @H? D276EJ H9:=6 AC@46DD:?8 2 562E9]k^Am kAmqFE 6G6? 5FC:?8 E92E 5:77:4F=E AC@46DD[ E96
Up nextCommunity calendarCommunity · 4 min read
You're offline — showing the last loaded page