Voices of 50+ New Hampshire: Dreams & Challenges

Transcription

1 2011 Voices of 50+ New Hampshire: 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 data presented here is based on a New Hampshire statewide sample of adults and has a sampling error of 5%. 2

3 Executive Summary The survey finds that: Half of adults 50+ in New Hampshire say that health care issues are the top problem facing mid-life and older adults in their state. Over a third cite economic issues as the biggest problem. Health and financial security are very important in the lives of adults 50+. More than nine in ten say staying healthy, staying mentally sharp, and spending time with friends and family are extremely or very important to them. Many also mention having adequate health insurance. Adults 50+ do not have everything they need in order to address their most important concerns. Only about a third say they have all they need to stay sharp and stay healthy, and only four in ten have all they need for adequate health insurance coverage. Only one-quarter say they have all they need to protect themselves from fraud and receive Social Security and Medicare when needed. With regard to specific health care issues, New Hampshire adults 50+ are most worried about increasing health care costs and the possibility of losing insurance, not being able to pay for a major illness and/or becoming financially devastated because of illness. 3

4 Executive Summary Staying in their own homes as they age is important to nearly all adults 50+. More than four in five support shifting funds used only for nursing homes to home and community-based services that allow people to stay in their own homes. With regard to specific financial issues, nearly all New Hampshire adults 50+ believe that protecting themselves against consumer fraud is important. Given that many New Hampshire adults 50+ are worried about health and financial issues such as paying for health care and protecting themselves against consumer fraud, many say they will continue working beyond traditional retirement age. At a more personal level, adults 50+ say vacation and travel, hobbies, and time with families and friends are what they personally dream about doing next in their lives. 4

5 Top Challenge Facing the 50+ Top Challenge (n=402) Health care issues include the cost of health care and staying healthy. Health care issues Economic issues Other social issues 11% 35% 48% 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. 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) 5

6 Issues of Importance to the 50+ Today Issues of Importance and Extent to Which Needs Are Met for the 50+ Today (n=402) Staying healthy Staying mentally sharp Spending time w/family&friends Adequate health insurance coverage Receiving Social Security when needed Receiving Medicare when needed Protecting against consumer fraud Finding the best deals and discounts 33% 37% 41% 39% 27% 23% 26% 20% 52% 96% 94% 90% 89% 84% 81% 74% 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 issue was extremely/very important. 6

7 50+ Health Care Concerns Worry about Health Issues (n=402) Having to pay more for your health care 47% 28% Losing health care insurance Unable to pay for for a major illness or injury Financial devastatation due to health costs Unable to afford health care services Quality of health care services getting worse Staying healthy Unable to afford prescription drugs 33% 33% 33% 31% 30% 29% 26% 24% 27% 31% 27% 27% 32% 28% Staying mentally sharp Finding a health care provider that accepts your insurance Finding a health care provider located near you 25% 26% 19% 20% 13% 18% Extremely/ Very Worried 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Somewhat Worried Source: HC9. I m going to read to you a list of health issues that people sometimes worry about. Please tell me how worried you are about each of the following. How worried are you about [INSERT, READ AND RANDOMIZE EACH ITEMS A THROUGH K BELOW]? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried? 7

8 50+ Long-Term Care Concerns Importance of Being Able to Stay in Your Own Home (n=401) Extremely important, 37% Not Sure/ Refused, 1% Very important, 46% Not at all important, 2% Not very important, 3% Somewhat important, 12% Source: Core 3m. How important is each of the following in your life right now? [Being able to stay in your own home as I get older]? Would you say this is extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important in your life right now? 8

9 50+ Long-Term Care Concerns Support or Oppose Allowing Nursing Home Only Funds to Also Be Used for Long-Term Care Services That Allow Aging in Place (n=402) Strongly support, 62% Somewhat support, 22% Neither support nor oppose, 8% Not Sure/ Refused, 3% Strongly oppose, 2% Somewhat oppose, 3% Source: HLTC6. How strongly do you support or oppose allowing funds now used only for nursing home care to also be used for long-term care services that help people stay in their own homes or communities? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose? 9

10 50+ Financial Concerns Importance of Protecting Yourself Against Consumer Fraud (n=401) Extremely important, 36% Not Sure/ Refused, 1% Not at all important, 3% Not very important, 8% Very important, 38% Somewhat important, 15% Source: Core 3n. How important is each of the following in your life right now? [Protecting yourself against consumer fraud]? Would you say this is extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important in your life right now? 10

11 50+ Work Concerns Work Plans at Traditional Retirement Age (n=196) Work part-time and pursue my hobbies, volunteer, travel, etc. 29% Continue working at my present job, but with reduced hours Continue working at my present job as long as I am able Retire and never return to work 13% 17% 17% Leave job and look for other part-time work in same industry or field Work as a consultant or on an as needed basis Work part-time and serve as a caregiver to children/grandchildren Change careers Work part-time and serve as a caregiver to parents Start own business Leave job and look for other full-time work in same industry or field Go back to school or into a job training program 6% 4% 4% 4% 3% 2% 2% 1% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% Source: WORK1. Which of the following best describes what you plan to do when you reach an age you consider to be retirement age? Would you [INSERT, READ AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A THROUGH L BELOW]? This question was only asked of employed respondents. 11

12 Dreams for the 50+ Hobbies and interests Career, job and work Top Dreams (n=402) Vacation and travel Kids, grandkids, family and friends 9% 7% 21% 42% Adults 50+ say they want to spend time traveling (42%) and pursuing their hobbies and interests (21%). Being with family and friends are what many dream about. Adults 50+ want to see their children or grandchildren happy or be a part of their lives and they want to spend time with family and friends. Good health Home 5% 5% 0% 20% 40% 60% Other dreams mentioned by fewer than five percent are around marriage, doing something different, earning money, and faith/spiritual pursuits. 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) 12

13 50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=402) AGE GENDER Male Female DISABILITY Yes No 15% 17% 44% 42% 48% 52% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% ETHNICITY Hispanic/ Latino RACE White Black Native American Asian Other HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30K-50K 50K-<75K 82% 75K+ 1% 1% <.5% <.5% 1% 22% 18% 15% 25% 97% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 13

14 50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=402) EMPLOYED Employed Retired Unemployed Other 4% 6% 48% 42% PARTY AFFILIATION Democrat Republican Independent Other 5% 23% 19% 47% EDUCATION HS or less Post HS or 2 yr. degree 27% 24% POLITICAL VIEWS Liberal Moderate Conservative 20% 24% 42% 4 yr. degree Post grad no degree Graduate degree 20% 6% 22% AARP MEMBERSHIP Yes No 52% 44% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 14

15 CONTACT Jamie Bulen AARP New Hampshire Associate State Director (603) 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 15