S1. Are you over or under age 50? 50 and over 100% 49 or younger 0% S5. Are you a resident of... North Carolina 2011 53 State Survey Annotated Questionnaire 2011 Weighted n=400; Sampling Error= ±5.0% The total percent of respondents in each question may add up to more than 100% due to rounding and multiple responses. Yes 100% No 0% 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 (or even do today) and want to do again or continue doing. What would you consider to be the one thing that you would most like to do? (Open ended/unaided response) CHILDREN: Seeing your children happy or being a part of their lives 3% GRANDCHILDREN: Seeing your grandchildren happy or being a part of their lives 3% MARRIAGE/NEW RELATIONSHIP: Getting married or starting a new relationship 2% VACATION/TRAVEL: Planning and going on a major vacation or traveling to place you always wanted to go 35% MOVE/BUY/BUILD/REMODEL HOME: Build your dream or remodel your current home or moving to a new home 5% HOBBY/INTERESTS: Spend time enjoying a hobby (like golf, cooking, crafts, or other things you like to do) or developing a talent. 19% FAITH/SPIRITUALITY: Strengthening your faith/spirituality 6% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 1
NEW PATH: Doing something new with yourself like going back to school, starting a new business or reinventing yourself some other way. A new direction for yourself. 2% VOLUNTEERING/SERVICE: Volunteering and helping others in need 1% FINANCES/MONEY: Earning or coming into enough money to take care of the things you need and want 8% HEALTH: Having good health and being able to get around or exercise 6% CAREER/JOB/WORK: Getting a better job within your current profession or taking your current career to a new level. 8% FAMILY/FRIENDS: Being close or doing activities with family or friends 2% Do not know/not sure 0% Refused 0% 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) Health Care (General / Unspecified) 28% Universal Health Care / National Health Care System / Health Care For All 1% Health Insurance (General / Unspecified) 3% Cost of Insurance 1% Cost of Health Care 4% Health Care Coverage & Access / Health Care Quality & Improving Quality of Health Care 2% Affordable Health Care for Seniors 1% Better or Quality Health Care for Seniors 1% Medicare 1% Personal Health Problems / Staying Healthy 9% Not Reducing Medicare Physician Fees 0% Availability or Cost of Long-term Care / Assisted Living / Senior Housing / Nursing Homes 2% Physically caring for themselves/loss of independence 1% Prescription Drug Costs 1% Medicare Part D 0% Health Care Reform / Obama Health Care Plan / \The\" Health Care Bill" 0% Other Health Care Issue <.5% Economy (General / Unspecified) 14% Gas / Fuel Prices <.5% Unemployment / Finding or Keeping a Job / Outsourcing / Wages 2% Balance the budget/national debt 1% Housing Market / Home Prices / Foreclosures / Mortgage Crisis 1% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 2
Taxes/Property Taxes 1% Cost of Living / Having Enough Money / Prices / Inflation 3% Energy Issues / Dependence on Oil / Dependence on Foreign Sources 0% Stock Market / Bailout 0% Social Security (Protection of / Solvency) 2% Preparing or Saving for Retirement / Having Enough for Retirement 2% Lack of Financial Security / Living on Fixed Income 2% Financial Security/Planning 1% Other economic issue <.5% Transportation / Getting Around / Driving 1% What to do with themselves/ How to spend time/be productive 2% Abortion <.5% Crime / Drugs 0% Education 1% Environment 0% Morality / Family Values / Religion 1% Poverty / Homelessness / Hunger <.5% Consumer Fraud 0% Senior Issues / The Aging Population / Issues Impacting Older Adults (General / Unspecified) 5% Lack of Concern for OR Protection of Older Adults <.5% Current Administration / Federal Government <.5% Immigration / Defending or Securing U.S. Borders 1% War in Iraq (Cost, Duration, Disagreement with) / Bring Troops Home 0% Politics / Partisanship / Gridlock / Need Change in Gov't / Poor Leadership / Corruption <.5% Terrorism / War on Terror / Homeland Security / Afghanistan <.5% Foreign Policy / World Peace 0% Other Social Issues/Other Political Issues 1% Other Response (Specify:) 2% Do not know/not sure 5% Refused 0% Core_Q3A. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Staying mentally sharp] Extremely important 56% Very important 39% Somewhat important 2% Not very important 1% Not at all important 1% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 3
Core_Q3B. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Spending time with family and friends] Extremely important 47% Very important 44% Somewhat important 6% Not very important 1% Not at all important 1% Refused 0% Core_Q3C. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Finding the best deals and discounts on things you want or need] Extremely important 27% Very important 43% Somewhat important 20% Not very important 6% Not at all important 2% Do not know/not sure 3% Refused 0% Core_Q3D. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Learning new things] Extremely important 28% Very important 46% Somewhat important 19% Not very important 5% Not at all important 1% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 4
Core_Q3E. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Ensuring you will receive or continue receiving Social Security benefits when you need them] Extremely important 59% Very important 35% Somewhat important 4% Not very important <.5% Not at all important 2% Core_Q3F. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Ensuring you will receive or continue receiving Medicare benefits when you need them] Extremely important 55% Very important 34% Somewhat important 5% Not very important 2% Not at all important 1% Do not know/not sure 2% Core_Q3G. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Making sure your retirement finances are adequate] Extremely important 48% Very important 43% Somewhat important 4% Not very important 2% Not at all important 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 5
Core_Q3H. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Having enough money to meet daily living expenses] Extremely important 55% Very important 41% Somewhat important 3% Not very important 1% Not at all important <.5% Core_Q3I. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Having adequate health insurance coverage] Extremely important 58% Very important 35% Somewhat important 3% Not very important 1% Not at all important 1% Refused 0% Core_Q3J. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Affording the cost of out-of-pocket health care expenses and prescription drugs] Extremely important 51% Very important 38% Somewhat important 7% Not very important 2% Not at all important 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 6
Core_Q3K. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Having quality long-term care for yourself or a family member when needed] Extremely important 52% Very important 38% Somewhat important 5% Not very important 2% Not at all important 2% Do not know/not sure <.5% Refused 0% Core_Q3L. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Staying healthy] Extremely important 65% Very important 32% Somewhat important 1% Not very important 1% Not at all important 1% Do not know/not sure <.5% Core_Q3M. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Being able to stay in your own home as I get older] Extremely important 52% Very important 35% Somewhat important 9% Not very important 1% Not at all important 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 7
Core_Q3N. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Protecting yourself against consumer fraud] Extremely important 45% Very important 42% Somewhat important 9% Not very important 2% Not at all important 1% Core_Q3O. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Saving money on everyday expense like groceries, gasoline, and dining out] Extremely important 35% Very important 44% Somewhat important 16% Not very important 4% Not at all important <.5% Core_Q3P. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Making sure your retirement finances are not only adequate but also allow you to live comfortably] Extremely important 47% Very important 45% Somewhat important 4% Not very important 2% Not at all important 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 8
Core_Q3Q. How important is each of the following in your life right now: [Having enough money to live comfortably and do the things you want to do] Extremely important 48% Very important 45% Somewhat important 4% Not very important 1% Not at all important 1% Core_Q4A. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Staying mentally sharp] Base=(293) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 33% Most of what you need 48% Some of what you need 15% A Little of what you need 3% Almost none of what you need <.5% Core_Q4L. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Staying healthy] Base=(305) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 31% Most of what you need 46% Some of what you need 18% A Little of what you need 2% Almost none of what you need 1% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 9
Core_Q4E. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Ensuring you will receive or continue receiving Social Security benefits when you need them] Base=(286) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 23% Most of what you need 34% Some of what you need 22% A Little of what you need 9% Almost none of what you need 3% Do not know/not sure 8% Core_Q4N. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Protecting yourself against consumer fraud] Base=(293) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 22% Most of what you need 35% Some of what you need 28% A Little of what you need 4% Almost none of what you need 6% Do not know/not sure 5% Core_Q4I. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Having adequate health insurance coverage] Base=(307) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 33% Most of what you need 43% Some of what you need 16% A Little of what you need 2% Almost none of what you need 3% Do not know/not sure 2% Refused 0% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 10
Core_Q4F. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Ensuring you will receive or continue receiving Medicare benefits when you need them] Base=(292) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 23% Most of what you need 34% Some of what you need 22% A Little of what you need 4% Almost none of what you need 6% Do not know/not sure 10% Core_Q4B. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Spending time with family and friends] Base=(269) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 33% Most of what you need 41% Some of what you need 19% A Little of what you need 5% Almost none of what you need 2% Core_Q4C. Do you think you currently have everything you need in regards to: [Finding the best deals and discounts on things you want or need] Base=(268) Respondents rating this item as extremely or very important in CORE_Q3. Everything you need 25% Most of what you need 43% Some of what you need 25% A Little of what you need 3% Almost none of what you need 3% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 11
Q1. The cost of long-term care services can vary greatly depending on your needs. For example, nationally, two hours of daily in home care per day for five days a week costs about $11,000 a year. Adult day care for five days a week costs about $17,000 a year. Full-time care in a nursing home costs about $84,000 a year. How confident are you that you could afford the cost of long-term care for three years? Are you extremely confident, very confident, somewhat confident, not very confident or not at all confident? Extremely confident 14% Very confident 12% Somewhat confident 23% Not very confident 17% Not at all confident 30% Do not know/not sure 3% Q2. If you or any member of your family needed long-term care services which care option would you prefer? Have family and friends provide all the care at home 32% Be able to pay a nurse or a personal care aide to provide care at home 29% Have care provided in a home-like setting such as an assisted living or a care home where housing, food, and personal help with bathing, dressing, and other activities are provided to those who need them 26% Have care provided in a nursing home 7% Do not know/not sure 6% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 12
Your state provides many services for its residents. Now I would like to ask your opinion on what state services are important to you. Q3. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Nursing homes.] Extremely important 33% Very important 41% Somewhat important 19% Not very important 4% Not at all important 2% Do not know/not sure 2% Q4. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Home care services that allow people to stay in their own homes.] Extremely important 42% Very important 43% Somewhat important 13% Not very important 1% Not at all important <.5% Q5. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Housing arrangements for people who can no longer live in their own homes such as adult family homes, boarding homes and assisted living facilities.] Extremely important 28% Very important 44% Somewhat important 20% Not very important 3% Not at all important 2% Do not know/not sure 3% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 13
Q6. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Health care access for the uninsured Extremely important 34% Very important 34% Somewhat important 23% Not very important 3% Not at all important 3% Do not know/not sure 3% Q7. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Natural resources protection for fish and game, clean water, and wildlife habitat.] Extremely important 31% Very important 39% Somewhat important 23% Not very important 5% Not at all important 2% Q8. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Education for K through 12 students.] Extremely important 46% Very important 39% Somewhat important 10% Not very important 3% Not at all important 1% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 14
Q9. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [State public colleges and universities.] Extremely important 33% Very important 38% Somewhat important 24% Not very important 2% Not at all important 1% Q10. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Public safety including courts and prisons.] Extremely important 31% Very important 42% Somewhat important 18% Not very important 2% Not at all important 3% Do not know/not sure 5% Q11. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Transportation, construction and maintenance for roads, bridges, and mass transit.] Extremely important 28% Very important 48% Somewhat important 17% Not very important 4% Not at all important 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 15
Q12. How important is it to you for your state to maintain current levels of funding for: [Local government aid to support fire and police, parks and recreation and senior centers.] Extremely important 32% Very important 41% Somewhat important 22% Not very important 1% Not at all important 3% Q13. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: Strongly support 8% Somewhat support 22% Neither support nor oppose 10% Somewhat oppose 18% Strongly oppose 40% Do not know/not sure 3% Q14. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Closing loopholes for certain businesses] Strongly support 37% Somewhat support 16% Neither support nor oppose 11% Somewhat oppose 11% Strongly oppose 14% Do not know/not sure 11% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 16
Q15. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Taxing services that are not currently taxed such as accounting services, lawyers, and dry cleaning services] Strongly support 15% Somewhat support 22% Neither support nor oppose 11% Somewhat oppose 17% Strongly oppose 29% Do not know/not sure 5% Q16. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Taxing goods that are not currently taxed such as candy, soda pop, gum and other processed foods] Strongly support 18% Somewhat support 23% Neither support nor oppose 12% Somewhat oppose 14% Strongly oppose 30% Do not know/not sure 3% Q17. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Increasing the cigarette tax] Strongly support 44% Somewhat support 12% Neither support nor oppose 10% Somewhat oppose 9% Strongly oppose 23% Do not know/not sure 2% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 17
Q18. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Increasing the tax on liquor, beer, and wine] Strongly support 44% Somewhat support 18% Neither support nor oppose 10% Somewhat oppose 8% Strongly oppose 18% Do not know/not sure 2% Q19. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Increasing the income tax for higher income households earning more than $250,000 annually] Strongly support 46% Somewhat support 16% Neither support nor oppose 5% Somewhat oppose 10% Strongly oppose 20% Do not know/not sure 3% Q20. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Increasing licensing and user fees, such as car and boat tags, marriage and birth certificates] Strongly support 14% Somewhat support 22% Neither support nor oppose 10% Somewhat oppose 18% Strongly oppose 33% Do not know/not sure 3% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 18
Q21. How strongly you support or oppose the following ways to raise money in order to avoid cuts to state services: [Using the states Rainy Day Fund] Strongly support 19% Somewhat support 26% Neither support nor oppose 16% Somewhat oppose 9% Strongly oppose 16% Do not know/not sure 15% D1. To ensure it is recorded accurately, could you please state your gender? Male 46% Female 54% D2. What is your age as of your last birthday? Age: 50-59 42% Age: 60-74 41% Age: 75+ 17% Mean 62.6 Median 60 Do not know/not sure 0% Refused 0% D3. What is your current marital status? Are you. Married 59% Living with your partner or significant other 1% Separated 2% Divorced 12% Widowed 16% Or are you currently single and never married 10% Do not know/not sure <.5% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 19
D4. IF D3=1, ASK Are you or your spouse currently a member of A-A-R-P? IF D3=2, ASK Are you or your partner or significant other currently a member of A-A-R-P? IF D3=something else, ASK Are you currently a member of A-A-R-P? Yes 35% No 63% Do not know/not sure 2% D5A. Thinking about who lives in your household, do you currently? Have any children under age 18 living with you Yes 11% No 88% Do not know/not sure 0% D5B. Thinking about who lives in your household, do you currently? Have any children over 18 living with you Yes 18% No 81% Do not know/not sure 0% D5C. Thinking about who lives in your household, do you currently? Have any children away at college Yes 9% No 90% Do not know/not sure 0% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 20
D6. Does any disability, handicap or chronic disease keep you from participating fully in work, school, household, or other activities? Yes 29% No 69% D7. What is the highest level of education that you completed? 0 to 12th grade, but with no diploma 13% High school graduate or equivalent 28% Post high school education, but with no degree 10% 2 year degree 16% 4 year degree 18% Post graduate study, but with no degree 5% Graduate or professional degree 7% Do not know/not sure <.5% Refused 2% D8. Which of the following best describes your current employment status? Self-employed full-time 4% Self-employed part-time 3% Employed full-time 18% Employed part-time 8% Retired and not working at all 46% Unemployed and looking for work 9% Or are you not in the labor force for other reasons 10% Refused 2% D9. Are you of Hispanic, Spanish, or Latino origin or descent? Yes 2% No 96% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 21
D10. Please feel free to mention one or more race categories to best describe what you consider yourself to be. Do you consider yourself to be.? White or Caucasian 79% Black or African American 18% Native American or Alaskan Native 1% Asian <.5% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander <.5% Or are you some other race? 0% Multi-race 1% Do not know/not sure 0% D11. Thinking about your state elections for Governor and Legislators in the last 10 years, which of the following best describes your voting behavior? Would you say you vote always, most of the time, about half of the time, seldom, or would you say you never vote? Always 61% Most of the time 22% About half of the time 5% Seldom 4% Never 6% Do not know/not sure 0% Refused 2% D12. Do you consider yourself to be a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or something else? Democrat 37% Republican 31% Independent 19% Tea Party member 0% Something else 7% Do not know/not sure 2% Refused 5% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 22
D13. How would you characterize your political views? Very Conservative 23% Somewhat Conservative 26% Moderate 25% Somewhat Liberal 7% Very liberal 5% None of the above 7% Do not know/not sure 5% Refused 3% D14. In general, how often do you go online to access the Internet or World Wide Web to send and receive email? Several times a day 30% About once a day 16% 3-5 days a week 4% 1-2 days a week 8% Once every few weeks 5% Or do you never go online to use the Internet or World Wide Web? 35% Do not know/not sure 0% Refused 2% D15. Do you personally have a working cell phone? Yes 74% No 25% Do not know/not sure 0% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 23
D16. Considering all of the phone calls you receive, would you say all or almost all of your calls are received on your cell phone, some are received on your cell phone and some on your regular phone, or would you say very few or none of the phone calls you receive are received on your cell phone. All/Almost All Receive ON CELL 15% Some Received ON CELL 41% Very Few/None Received ON CELL 43% Refused 0% D17. What is your 5-digit zip code? D18. We realize income is a private matter and so rather than ask you anything specific about your income, I d like to ask you to please stop me when I get to the category that your includes your household s income before taxes in 2010. Was it.? Less than $10,000 11% $10,000 to less than $20,000 9% $20,000 to less than $30,000 15% $30,000 to less than $40,000 8% $40,000 to less than $50,000 11% $50,000 to less than $60,000 7% $60,000 to less than $75,000 11% $75,000 to less than $100,000 6% $100,000 to less than $150,000 4% $150,000 to less than $200,000 1% $200,000 or more 1% Do not know/not sure 3% Refused 13% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 24
D19. Would you be willing to share your name and contact information with us for further discussion or participation in a follow-up survey sometime in the next few months? Yes 20% No 78% D20. Which of the following describes your health care coverage situation? I have health care coverage through my current or previous employer or my spouse's current or previous employer 36% I have health care coverage through a plan I bought myself, not through an employer 11% I have health care coverage through Medicare only 15% I have health care coverage through Medicare plus a private health insurance plan that supplements my Medicare coverage 28% I do not have health care coverage at this time 9% I have health insurance coverage through some other way (include VA/Veterans Affairs) 6% Sample Market North Carolina - Random 100% AARP Voices of 50+, February 2011 25