Voices of 50+ Hispanics in Arizona: Dreams & Challenges

Transcription

1 2011 Voices of 50+ Hispanics in Arizona: Dreams & Challenges

2 Executive Summary AARP has a strong commitment to help improve the lives of the 50+ population. As part of the Association s continuous communication with its members and all 50+ Americans, AARP commissioned an innovative set of surveys designed to better gather information on the needs, interests and concerns of 50+ Americans both at the national and state level. These random digit dial telephone surveys of over 29,000 adults age 50+ across the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands were fielded between January 2 nd and January 31 st. These telephone interviews also included additional list-assisted samples of African-American and Hispanic 50+ adults. The survey was fielded between January 2 nd and January 31 st. The data presented here is based on a state of Arizona sample of Hispanic adults and has a sampling error of 5.5%. 2

3 Executive Summary The survey finds that: Over four in ten Hispanic adults 50+ say that health care issues are the top problem or challenge facing mid-life and older adults in Arizona. Over one-third cite economic issues as the greatest challenge. At a more personal level, adults 50+ say vacation and travel, seeing their children happy, pursuing hobbies and interests, and earning or coming into enough money are what they personally dream most about doing next in their lives. Health and financial security are very important in the lives of adults 50+. More than nine in ten say receiving Social Security, staying mentally sharp, and staying healthy are extremely or very important to them. Adults 50+ do not have everything they need in order to accomplish their most important goals: Half have everything they need to stay healthy. About four in ten have everything they need to stay mentally sharp. Just over one-third have what they need to receive Medicare and Social Security when needed, while only 22% have what they need to protect against consumer fraud. 3

4 Executive Summary Nearly four in ten Hispanic Arizonians think it will take three or more years for the state s economy to improve and 40% are not satisfied with their current financial situation. Six in ten say paying their monthly utility bill is a problem. The vast majority (80%) believe their elected state officials are not doing enough to lower electricity bills. More than six in ten say their community is a good place for older people to live. About one-quarter say they are extremely or very informed about longterm care services, while six in ten think it would be hard to find affordable long-term care. Fewer, four in ten, think it would be hard to find long-term care when needed and within a reasonable distance from home. In the current economy, adults 50+ believe it is important to protect health and long-term care services from budget cuts. Four in ten would oppose a plan to reduce the state budget deficit if it meant reducing public benefits such as Medicaid. 4

5 Dreams for the 50+ Vacation and Travel Top Dreams (n=300) Hispanic adults 50+ say they want to spend time traveling (25%) and being with family 25% and friends (22%). Kids, Grandkids, Family and Friends Finances Hobbies and Interests 17% 11% 22% Others dream about having adequate finances (17%) and pursuing their hobbies or interests (11%). Other dreams mentioned by fewer than five percent are around marriage, career, and home building / remodeling. New Path 6% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Core Q1. Thinking about what s next in your life, I would like you to think about the kinds of things you dream about doing these could be things you have always wanted to do, but never got around to, or things you have done in the past and want to continue doing. What would you consider to be the one thing that you would most like to do? (Open ended/unaided response) 5

6 Top Challenge Facing the 50+ Top Challenge (N=300) Health care issues include the cost of health care and staying healthy. Health Care Issues Economic Issues 36% 44% Economic issues include unemployment and having enough money to retire. Other social issues vary widely. They include topics like how to spend time, transportation/getting around, family values, politics and government. Other Social Issues 18% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: Core Q2. What do you believe is the SINGLE most important problem or challenge facing mid life and older Americans as they get older? (Open ended/unaided response) 6

7 Issues of Importance to the 50+ Today Issues of Importance and Extent to Which Needs Are Met for the of 50+ Today (n=300) Receiving Social Security When Needed 35% 98% Staying Mentally Sharp 42% 97% Staying Healthy 50% 95% Protection Against Consumer Fraud 22% 89% Receiving Medicare When Needed Adequate Health Insurance Coverage 33% 36% 85% 83% Spending Time w/ Family & Friends 57% 81% Finding the Best Deals and Discounts 32% 76% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Extremely/Very Important Everything They Need Source: Core 3a-q. How important is each of the following in your life right now? Core 4a-h: Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to [specific items of extreme/very importance]? See attached annotated survey for a list of items. Base for Everything They Need is those who said item was extremely/very important. 7

8 50+ Economic Concerns Length of Time Before Arizona s Economy Improves (n=300) 1-2 years, 11% 2-3 years, 26% Within the next year, 12% 3+ years, 38% Not sure / refused, 13% Source: ECON1. When do you think your state s economy will improve? 8

9 50+ Economic Concerns Satisfaction With Current Financial Situation (n=300) Very satisfied, 25% Somewhat satisfied, 30% Extremely satisfied, 5% Not at all satisfied, 7% Not very satisfied, 33% Source: ECON2. How satisfied are you with your own financial situation today? 9

10 50+ Financial Concerns Major Problem, 38% Difficulty Paying Monthly Utility Bills (n=300) Minor Problem, 23% Not a Problem, 39% Source: GUTIL1. Thinking about your monthly costs for household utilities, including heating and cooling, electricity, and water and sewer, would you say paying for these costs is a major problem, a minor problem, or not a problem for you? 10

11 50+ Financial Concerns Are Elected State Officials Doing Enough to Lower Electricity Bills? (n=300) No, 80% Not Sure/Refused, 4%, 0, 0 Yes, 16% Source: EUTIL9. Do you feel your state elected officials are doing enough to lower the cost of your electricity bill? 11

12 50+ Work Concerns Will Delay Retirement if Economy Does Not Improve (n=127) Yes, 52% About half of Arizonians 50+ who are employed say they will delay complete retirement if the economy does not improve over the next 12 months. No, 18% Not sure, 30% Source: WORK2. If the economy does NOT improve over the next 12 months, will you delay complete retirement and work longer? BASE: Among employed respondents 12

13 50+ Community Concerns Rating of Community as a Place for Older People To Live (n=300) Very Good, 27% Excellent, 19% Good, 19% Poor, 3% Fair, 32% Source: COMM2. Thinking about your future needs, how would you rate your community as a place for older people to live? 13

14 50+ Volunteering Volunteered in Past Year (n=300) A third of Hispanic Arizonians 50+ have volunteered in the past year. Yes, 33% No, 67% Source: VOL2. In the past 12 months, have you ever volunteered for a nonprofit organization, a charity, school, hospital, religious organization, neighborhood association, civic or any other group? 14

15 50+ Long-Term Care Degree Informed About Long-Term Care Services (n=300) Somewhat Informed, 21% Not Very Informed, 30% Very Informed, 13% Extremely Informed, 12% Not At All Informed, 24% Source: HLTC4. How informed would you say you are about long-term care services provided at home and in community settings? 15

16 50+ Long-Term Care Ease of Finding Long-Term Care (n=300) When Needed 27% 13% 45% That is Affordable 14% 10% 60% Within a Reasonable Distance from Home 31% 13% 39% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Very/Somewhat Easy Neither Easy nor Hard Very/Somewhat Hard Source: HLTC5a-c. If you needed long-term care services in your community for you or a family member, how easy or hard do you think it would be to find the appropriate long term care [insert items a through c]? See attached annotated survey for a list of items a-c 16

17 50+ State Budget Concerns Support for Reducing State Budget Deficit IF it Means Reducing Public Benefits (n=300) Somewhat Support, 7% Neither Support nor Oppose, 13% Somewhat Oppose, 13% Strongly Support, 36% Strongly Oppose, 28% Not Sure/Refused, 3% Source: SB2. How strongly do you support or oppose a plan to reduce the state budget deficit if that plan would also reduce public benefits, such as Medicaid-the government health insurance program that provides health and long-term care for low income people? 17

18 50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=300) AGE RACE % 36% 53% White Black Native American Asian <1% <1% 0% 95% Other 4% GENDER ETHNICITY Male 49% Hispanic/Latino 100% Female 51% HOUSEHOLD INCOME DISABILITY <30K 30K - <50K 30% 36% Yes 28% 50K - <75K 16% No 72% 75K+ 4% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 18

19 50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=300) EMPLOYMENT PARTY AFFILIATION Democrat 47% Employed 42% Republican 17% Retired 38% Independent 8% Unemployed 10% POLITICAL VIEWS Other 9% Liberal 25% Moderate 39% EDUCATION Conservative 25% <HS Diploma 42% AARP MEMBERSHIP HS Grad 23% Yes 27% Some College/Assoc. 15% No 73% Bachelor's 15% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Graduate+/Professional 5% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 19

20 50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=300) Language Spoken at Home English Only, 3% English Most of the Time, 8% Spanish Only, 41% Spanish and English with Spanish Preference, 9% Spanish and English with English Preference, 4% Spanish most of the time, 10% Spanish and English Equally, 21% 20

21 CONTACT For more information, please contact: Cynthia Fagyas, AARP Arizona Associate State Director, Multicultural Outreach AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Copyright 2011 AARP Research & Strategic Analysis, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC Reprinting with Permission 21