Are mini strokes common in elderly people?

Not rare: Not sure if you mean lacunar strokes or tia's, but both do occur with high frequency , and if you experience, you should take meds to prevent such as clopidigrel or aggrenox.

TIA: TIAs, sometimes called 'mini-strokes' are all too common in the elderly. Estimates range up to 500,00 per year. The sad part is, many of these are followed within weeks or months with a full stroke. TIAs are temporary (transient ischemic attacks), but full strokes are permanent..