AARP Hearing Center
What Older Americans Should Know About Donating Blood
With blood supplies critically low, many adults over 50 may still be able to donate. Here’s what can affect eligibility
The nation’s blood supply is running dangerously low, and many older adults can help by donating.
Getty Images
Key takeaways
- Many blood centers do not set an upper age limit for donors, though some may. Check with your local blood center.
- High blood pressure, diabetes and other common conditions may not keep you from donating if they are being managed.
- Some medications can interfere with a donation. Never stop a prescribed medication just so you can give blood.
The nation’s blood supply is running dangerously low.
The American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis July 27 after donations dropped to a four-year summer low. At the time, the organization had less than a one-day supply of type O positive blood and had begun limiting how much type O blood it sent to hospitals.
More Ways to Benefit
- Related Benefit 1
- Related Benefit 2
- Related Benefit 3
- Related Benefit 4
- Related Benefit 5
The American Red Cross says both O positive and O negative blood types are especially important but for different reasons. O positive is the most commonly used blood type and can be given to more than 80 percent of the population, so hospitals use it frequently. O negative is the universal red blood cell type and is often used in emergencies when a patient’s blood type is unknown. Because only about 7 percent of people have O negative blood and demand is so high, it is often the first type to run short.
Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured, and hospitals rely on a steady supply to treat patients. When they run low, or run out, patients have to wait longer for transfusions or other treatments that rely on a ready blood supply. That makes the need for every eligible donor to contribute especially urgent, including older adults who may have assumed they are too old to donate blood.
Am I too old to donate blood?
“While older people more commonly have conditions that make them ineligible to donate blood, if a person is healthy, they can donate at any age,” says Dr. Thomas G. DeLoughery, a professor of medicine, pathology and pediatrics in the divisions of hematology/oncology and laboratory medicine at Oregon Health & Science University.
Many blood centers do not set an upper age limit for donors, but some may. America’s Blood Centers says age rules can vary by blood center, so older adults should check with their local center.
Beyond a blood center’s rules, your health status matters. “Your ability to donate blood is based on your health history and whether you feel healthy and well on the day of donation,” says Dr. Amelia Haj, a blood banking and transfusion medicine specialist
Are older adults at higher risk for reactions?
When giving blood, older age does not appear to make reactions such as dizziness or fainting more likely.
“There is no evidence to show that older blood donors have higher risk of developing adverse reaction after blood donation,” says Dr. Mei San Tang, who is the medical director of the Immunohematology Reference Lab and Blood Services at ARUP Laboratories and an assistant professor at the University of Utah School of Medicine. “In fact, adverse reactions from blood donation tend to happen in younger individuals, females and first-time donors.”
Of course, everyone needs to consider their health before donating. A whole blood donation removes about 500 milliliters of blood, says Dr. John D. Roback, who is a professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and director of Emory’s Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapy.
“Most healthy people tolerate this amount of blood loss just fine,” Roback says. “But if a donor is frail, has limited cardiac reserve, et cetera, then I would advise them to talk with their own physician prior to donating.”
Haj offers similar advice for people who notice that their stamina has changed with age. She says someone who is slowing down or having more difficulty tolerating physical activity may want to talk with a doctor before donating.
What if I have high blood pressure or diabetes?
Having a chronic health condition does not automatically disqualify you.
“Many older people with common medical conditions can still donate blood,” Roback says. He says people with high blood pressure that is controlled with medication, those with diabetes, including insulin-treated diabetes, and people with high cholesterol that is being treated with statins may still be eligible.
The Red Cross says people with high blood pressure can donate if they feel well and their blood pressure is no higher than 180/100 at the time of donation. Taking blood pressure medicine by itself does not disqualify someone. Those who have low blood pressure may be disqualified if their blood pressure is too low.
Heart disease can require a closer look. The American Red Cross says a recent heart attack, bypass surgery, angioplasty or a change in a heart condition that required a medication change may mean you need to wait before donating.
Haj says a history of heart disease, stroke or cancer can affect eligibility, but it does not always rule out donation.
Dr. Nina Blachman, who is a geriatrician at NYU Langone Health, says many people may rule themselves out too quickly. “Older people might think they are ineligible due to age or chronic medical conditions, but this is not necessarily the case, depending on those conditions,” she says.
If you have a significant health condition and are not sure whether you qualify, check with the blood center before your appointment.
Can my medications stop me from donating?
Some can. Many do not.
Blood thinners, such as warfarin and apixaban, are some of those that do preclude you from donating, per DeLoughery: “People who are on these medications cannot donate blood.”
The Red Cross lists several anticoagulants that can require a waiting period because blood may not clot normally while someone is taking them. The organization also lists all the medications that may interfere with donating blood.
Under current Red Cross rules, aspirin does not require a waiting period for a whole blood donation, though it can affect whether someone can donate platelets.
Other medications can matter too.
“Blood thinners, hair loss medications, prostate medications and certain arthritis medications may impact your ability to donate blood,” Haj says. “Be sure to mention any medications you are taking when you are in the health history booth before donating.”
Statins and diabetes medications are not on the medication list used to flag donors who may need to wait before giving blood, Tang says. Blood centers may have additional rules, so check with the center if you take medication and are unsure whether you can donate.
You should avoid going off a medication to make yourself eligible.
“It is important to continue taking your medications as prescribed by your physician and not stop them in order to be eligible for blood donation,” Tang says.
Roback also recommends bringing a list of your medications, including any supplements you take, to the appointment.
“The best advice here is to bring a complete list of your medications to the donation visit; they will be able to tell you at the collection site whether you are eligible or not,” he says.
What if I’ve had cancer?
A past cancer diagnosis does not necessarily mean you can never donate again.
The rules depend on the type of cancer, treatment and how long it has been since the cancer was treated.
“In most cases, if you ever had any type of blood cancer, such as leukemia or lymphoma, for example, you are not able to donate,” says Dr. Yembur Ahmad, who is medical director of the Blood Donor Center and associate medical director of the Blood Bank at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a member of the faculty at Harvard Medical School.
That’s because those cancers affect the blood and bone marrow, where the blood cells are made.
“If you had a different type of cancer, such as a solid tumor like breast cancer or prostate cancer, you may still be able to donate if you have been cancer-free for at least a year,” he adds.
DeLoughery makes a similar distinction. “People with active cancer cannot donate blood, but many of them can once in remission or cured,” he says.
Roback cautions that the rules can get complicated.
“In many cases, the answer is yes,” Roback says of people who have had cancer, heart disease or other significant health problems. “But this is an area with many nuances, exceptions and details built into the regulations.”
Anyone with a cancer history should check with the blood center rather than assume they are eligible or permanently unable to give.
Why does the finger-prick test matter?
Before you donate, the blood center checks your hemoglobin, the part of red blood cells that carries oxygen through your body; a low level can be a sign of anemia, which becomes more common as people get older.
“When you come in to donate blood, you will have a hemoglobin test,” Haj says. “You will only be allowed to donate if your hemoglobin is high enough.”
The Red Cross requires a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 grams per deciliter for women and 13.0 for men.
Iron matters as well because your body needs it to make hemoglobin.
“Some conditions that cause iron loss or anemia may become more common as we age,” says Haj. "If you are anemic, or if you have been told that you are iron-deficient, you will need to wait to donate until this has resolved.”
A doctor can decide whether testing for iron deficiency or taking an iron supplement makes sense.
Tang also suggests that people who donate three or more times a year let their primary care doctor know.
Am I more likely to faint because I’m older?
Not necessarily. Younger donors may actually be more likely to feel faint.
“Everyone is different, but younger, more inexperienced donors are actually more likely to experience side effects, like feeling faint, than older experienced donors,” Ahmad says. “Getting older comes with some perks!”
Tang points to the same pattern.
Dizziness can still happen at any age. That is why donors are asked to stay at the donation center for a short recovery period.
Roback’s advice is simple: “Don’t bypass this step.”
What should I do before and after donating?
A few basic steps can make the experience easier.
The American Red Cross recommends getting a good night’s sleep, eating before your appointment and drinking extra fluids before donating. That means guzzling an extra 16 ounces of water or another nonalcoholic drink before the appointment.
Ahmad keeps it simple: “Make sure that you stay hydrated and eat something substantial prior to donating.”
Afterward, stay at the donation center for the recommended recovery period. Have a drink and a snack before you leave.
Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for about a day following your donation, advises the Red Cross. “Take it easy the day of and after donation,” DeLoughery says. “Some people will have less ability to exercise, but the body recovers quickly.”
Make sure to notify a staff member if you start feeling lightheaded, dizzy or nauseous while you are still at the donation center.
“During your observation period, if you start feeling lightheaded or other symptoms, immediately notify a donor center staff,” Tang says.
If symptoms develop after you get home, Tang advises seeking medical care for new symptoms and notifying the donation center if you needed medical attention.
“Older adults are needed and welcome to donate,” Roback says. “While some of them may be excluded from donating, many qualify and their donations can have an enormous positive impact on the blood supply.”
AARP Membership
Join AARP for only $15 per year with automatic renewal. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of benefits, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP The Magazine.
More From AARP
What Does Your Blood Type Say About Your Health?
Some blood types are tied to health conditions, but lifestyle choices count more
10 Steps to Take Before Leaving the Hospital
Simple steps to reduce confusion, prevent errors and recover with support
5 Health Care Costs That Can Surprise Patients
Learn how fees, deductibles and pricing gaps can lead to large bills