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Organ Donation for People 50 and Over
How old can you be and still donate the gift of life? What age is the right age to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor?
If you think you’re too old to sign up, think again! Any age is the right age to sign up. That’s because we’re living longer, healthier lives than ever before. So more of us can be organ, eye, and tissue donors and recipients … into our 50s, 60s, 70s, even into our 80s and 90s.
Statistics on Organ Donation and Transplantation for People 50 Plus
Here are some statistics and facts you should know about organ donation and transplantation for people over 50:
- In 2011, 60% of all individuals who received organ transplants were over 50.¹
- In 2011, 32% of all organ donors were over the age of 50.¹
- Many people over 50 years of age mistakenly think they are too old to donate organs while many others believe they are too old to receive them.²
- In America, more than 99 million people are over the age of 50.³ Think of how many lives could be saved if we all registered as organ, eye, and tissue donors!
- Your age doesn’t make you ineligible to sign up, nor do you have to be in perfect health. The condition of your organs will be evaluated at the time of your death.
People of all ages can be organ, eye, and tissue donors. And we’re all needed. Join the 100+ million who have signed up and register today. Go to http://www.organdonor.gov.
- Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, data as of April 2012. Current data are available at http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov .
- National Survey of Organ and Tissue Donation Attitudes and Behaviors, 2005, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Age and Sex in the United States, 2010.
| Last Modified: 7/9/2012 10:16:44 AM |
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