Can Baby Boomers Donate a Kidney?
If you’re a baby boomer who is considering kidney donation, you may be wondering whether you are too old to donate a kidney, or whether retirement is a good time to become a living donor.
With more people living longer, healthier lives, an increasing number of baby boomers are eager to help others through living kidney donation. This is especially true for those who have retired because they don’t have to work around job schedules, and taking time off work is no longer an issue.
Here’s what you need to know about the age requirements for kidney donors and whether you can donate a kidney during retirement.
Kidney Donation and Retirement
The baby boom generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is now in their 60s and 70s, which is a great age to consider living kidney donation. Many baby boomers have retired or are considering retirement, which means that they will no longer have to worry about scheduling their donation around work and taking time off for recovery.
Retirees are often looking for ways to stay active, contribute to society, and find personal fulfillment. Kidney donation is a meaningful way to do this, as it allows individuals to make a life-changing impact while experiencing a deep sense of purpose.
Donating a kidney later in life can also be a way to feel connected to others and leave a lasting legacy of generosity. It’s an incredible way to find fulfillment after years of working or raising a family.
Age Limits for Kidney Donation
Kidney donation eligibility is not strictly determined by age. While transplant centers may have different policies, the key factor is your overall health. There is no universal maximum age limit for kidney donation, but potential donors will undergo a comprehensive medical screening to ensure they are healthy enough to donate a kidney. Age and age-related conditions will be considered as part of this evaluation.
Provided they are healthy, people can become donors into their late 70s, and there have even been several cases of living donors in their 80s, and at least one in their early 90s. In fact, a 2011 study by Johns Hopkins Medicine confirmed that kidney donations from people over 70 are safe for both the donor and the recipient.
According to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN), which tracks every organ donation and transplant event in the U.S., in 2024, 7.6% of all living kidney donors were over 65, and 30.5% were between the ages of 50 and 64.
As more transplant centers focus on the health of the donor rather than solely on age, these numbers are continuing to grow, creating more opportunities than ever before for older individuals to donate a kidney and save someone’s life.
Finding a Center as an Older Kidney Donor
If you are an older potential living kidney donor, it’s important to remember that every transplant center has its own policies and guidelines regarding donor age, and it does tend to be more difficult for older donors to find a center willing to consider them as a living donor.
If you are healthy and willing to become a donor, don’t let being turned down by a transplant center stop you. While some transplant centers may have a hard cutoff for kidney donor age, an increasing number are focusing more on health and evaluating older donors on a case-by-case basis.
If you are a baby boomer considering kidney donation, consult with your doctor and register with the National Kidney Registry to determine if you are eligible. Your generosity could save someone’s life—no matter your age.