2011 Voices of 50+ Delaware: Dreams & Challenges
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 state sample of 412 50+ adults in Delaware and has a sampling error of 5%. 2
Executive Summary The survey finds that: Half of adults 50+ say that health care issues are the top problem or challenge facing mid-life and older adults in Delaware. Three in ten cite economic issues as the largest challenge. At a more personal level, adults 50+ say vacation and travel and hobbies are what they personally dream 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 staying healthy, staying mentally sharp, and having adequate health insurance are extremely or very important to them. Adults 50+ do not have everything they need in order to accomplish their most important goals: About four in ten say they have all they need to stay sharp, stay healthy, and have adequate health insurance coverage. Many adults 50+ have concerns that their children will not have as easy a time achieving the American Dream as they themselves did. Sixty-one percent of adults 50+ have volunteered over the past year, and over four in ten express strong interest in volunteering. 3
Executive Summary By far, most adults 50+ in Delaware drive a car to get around their neighborhoods (86%); followed by riding in a car (50%), or walking (38%). Over a third of adults 50+ say they have considered changing (8%) or have changed (27%) their driving behavior. When it comes to rating their communities as a place for older people to live, half say their community is excellent or very good. However, over seven in ten are extremely or very satisfied with their communities as a place to live. Over half of 50+ adults in Delaware worry about not having adequate longterm care choices in their communities if they or their family come to need such care. Over four in five 50+ adults in Delaware would support strengthening enforcement of quality standards for nursing homes. 4
Dreams for the 50+ Vacation and travel Career, job and work Top Dreams (n=412) Hobbies and interests Reinventing self Move/buy/remodel Home Good health Kids, grandkids, family and friends 8% 8% 7% 6% 5% 15% 42% 0% 20% 40% 60% Adults 50+ say they want to spend time traveling (42%) and pursuing their hobbies and interests (15%). Reinventing themselves (8%) and/or their residences (8%) are also a dream of many 50+. Being with family is what many dream about. Adults 50+ want to see their children or grandchildren happy or be a part of their lives. Other dreams mentioned by fewer than five percent are around marriage, faith/ spirituality, having enough money, and volunteering. 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
Top Challenge Facing the 50+ Top Challenge (n=412) Health care issues include the cost of health care and staying healthy. Health care issues Economic issues Other social issues 31% 21% 48% Economic issues include unemployment and having enough money to retire. Other social issues vary widely. They include topics like how to spend time, senior issues, 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) 6
Issues of Importance to the 50+ Today Issues of Importance and Extent to Which Needs Are Met for the 50+ Today (n=412) Staying healthy Staying mentally sharp Adequate health insurance coverage Receiving Medicare when needed Spending time w/family&friends Receiving Social Security when needed Protecting against consumer fraud Finding the best deals and discounts 22% 35% 43% 40% 32% 39% 33% 31% 64% 98% 96% 94% 93% 91% 92% 84% 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. 7
50+ Generational Concerns Achieving the American Dream Will Be Easier for Your Children s Generation Than for You (n=412) No, 83% Not Sure/ Refused, 4% Yes, 13% Source: 50+1. Do you think that achieving the American dream for your children s generation will be easier than it has been for you? 8
50+ Volunteering Interest in Volunteering in Local Community (n=412) Somewhat interested, 32% Very interested, 25% Not very interested, 15% Extremely interested, 16% Not Sure/ Refused, 1% Not at all interested, 12% Source: VOL1. How interested are you in volunteering in your community? Are you extremely interested, very interested, somewhat interested, not very interested or not at all interested? 9
50+ Volunteering Yes, 61% Volunteered in the Past 12 Months (n=412) No, 39% In the past 12 months, 61 percent of adults 50+ say they have volunteered for a nonprofit organization, charity, school, hospital, religious organization, neighborhood association, civic or some other group. Source: VOL2. in the past 12 months, have you ever volunteered, [REPEAT DEFINITION ABOVE IF NEEDED] for a nonprofit organization, a charity, school, hospital, religious organization, neighborhood association, civic or any other group? 10
50+ Volunteering Volunteer Preference (n=303) Self directed based on opportunities that allow to choose when and for how long 50% Regular recurring times 25% An on-call basis when opportunities are available 18% Some other way 2% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: VOL3. Which of the following best describes how you prefer to volunteer? [READ AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A THROUGH C BELOW]. Base: Those who volunteered in last 12 months. 11
50+ Transportation Concerns Current Means of Transportation (n=412) Drive a car 86% 14% Ride in a car 50% 50% Walk 38% 61% Use public transportation 10% 90% Use a special transportation service for seniors or persons with disabilities 8% 92% Take a taxi 3% 97% Yes 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: TRANS1. How do you usually get around your neighborhood for things like shopping, visiting the doctor, running errands or other things? Do you [INSERT, READ AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A THROUGH G BELOW] No 12
50+ Transportation Concerns Changes in Driving Behavior (n=412) Yes, did consider 8% 35 percent of adults age 50+ say they have considered changing or have changed their driving behavior. Yes, did change 27% No 63% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: TRANS2. Some people may change their driving behavior as they get older. Have you considered changing or have you changed your driving behavior? 13
50+ Community Concerns Rating of Community as a Place for Older People to Live (n=412) Very good, 27% Good, 28% Excellent, 23% Fair, 17% Not Sure/ Refused, 2% Poor, 4% Source: COMM2. Thinking about your future needs, how would you rate your community as a place for older people to live? Would you say it is.? 14
50+ Community Concerns Satisfaction with Community as a Place to Live (n=412) Very satisfied, 45% Extremely satisfied, 26% Not Sure/ Refused, Not 1% at all satisfied, 2% Somewhat satisfied, 23% Not very satisfied, 5% Source: COMM3. Overall, how satisfied are you with your community as a place to live? Would you say that you are extremely satisfied, very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not too satisfied or not at all satisfied? 15
50+ Long-Term Care Concerns Worry about Choices Regarding Type of Long-Term Care Services Available (n=412) Somewhat worried, 36% Very worried, 14% Extremely worried, 7% Not Sure/ Refused, 2% Not at all worried, 19% Not very worried, 23% Source: GLTC10. How worried are you about having enough choices regarding the type of long-term care services available for you or your family? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried or not at all worried? 16
50+ Long-Term Care Concerns Support or Oppose Strengthening Enforcement of Quality Standards for Nursing Homes (n=412) Strongly support, 65% Somewhat support, 19% Neither support nor oppose, 4% Not Sure/ Refused, 5% Strongly oppose, 3% Somewhat oppose, 4% Source: GLTC12. How strongly do you support or oppose strengthening the enforcement of quality standards for nursing homes in your state? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose? 17
50+ Telephone Concerns Use Wireless or Cellular Telephone Service (n=412) Yes, 77% Proportion of Calls Using Wireless or Cellular Telephone (base=317) Some, 43% No, 23% Almost all, 14% Few/none 43% Source:TUTIL2. Do you currently use a wireless or cellular phone? Source: 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. 18
50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=412) AGE 50-59 60-74 75+ GENDER Male Female DISABILITY Yes No 18% 26% 39% 43% 45% 55% 73% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% ETHNICITY Hispanic/ Latino HOUSEHOLD INCOME <30K 30K-50K 50K-<75K 75K+ 1% RACE White Black 17% Native 1% Asian <0.5% Other <0.5% 27% 21% 18% 16% 82% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 19
50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=412) EMPLOYED Employed 29% PARTY AFFILIATION Democrat 42% Retired Unemployed 7% 56% Republican Independent 22% 28% Other 7% POLITICAL VIEWS EDUCATION HS or less Post HS or 2 yr. 39% 23% Liberal Moderate Conservative 22% 27% 41% 4 yr. degree Post grad no degree Graduate degree 16% 9% 12% AARP MEMBERSHIP Yes No 56% 43% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 20
CONTACT For more information, please contact: Kim Iapalucci Associate State Director, Communications (302) 498-6511 KIapalucci@aarp.org 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 20049 Reprinting with Permission 21