2011 Voices of 50+ Hispanics in New York: 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 sample of 302 New York state 50+ Hispanic adults and has a sampling error of 5.5%. 2
Executive Summary The survey finds that: About six in ten Hispanic New York adults 50+ say that health care issues are the top problem or challenge facing mid-life and older adults in their state. One fifth cite economic issues or other social issues as the largest challenge. At a more personal level, adults 50+ say forging a new path, hobbies, and being active in their children and grandchildren s lives 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, having adequate health insurance, staying mentally sharp, protecting against consumer fraud, Social Security, and Medicare are extremely or very important to them. Hispanic adults 50+ do not have everything they need in order to accomplish their most important goals: A third or less have all they need to stay healthy, receive Social Security, and protect against consumer fraud. 3
Executive Summary In spite of current worries about financial, health, transportation, and work issues, about two in three (63 percent) of all Hispanic New York adults 50+ are confident that life will be better for their children s generation than it has been for them. Worries about health issues illustrate the importance of finances. About seven in ten are extremely or very worried about being able to afford health care services or facing financial devastation due to health costs. Roughly three quarters or more are extremely or very worried about losing coverage, being unable to pay for major illness or injury, or being unable to afford prescription drugs. About 90 percent of Hispanic adults 50+ worry about one or more financial issues. Public assistance benefits and maintaining finances and lifestyle in retirement are worries for two-thirds. In the current economy, over half (58 percent) of Hispanic adults 50+ say they have had at least some difficulty paying their monthly electric utility bill. 4
Executive Summary If the economy doesn t improve over the next 12 months, 49 percent of Hispanic New York adults age 50+ say they will delay retirement and work longer. Over in ten say they plan to never retire and another one in ten say they plan to work up to 5 years longer. Only two in ten Hispanic New Yorkers 50+ say they feel extremely or very informed about long-term care services available in their community. 5
Dreams for the 50+ Hobbies and interests Career, job, and work Faith and spirituality Top Dreams (n=302) New path Children and grandchildren Health 9% 9% 8% 16% 13% 28% Hispanic adults 50+ say they want to create a new path for themselves (28%) and spend time pursuing their hobbies and interests (16%). Personal growth is what they dream about. Adults 50+ want to be active in their children or grandchildren s lives; get a better job or take their current career to a new level (9%); maintain good health (9%); and strengthen their faith or spirituality (8%). Vacation and travel 6% 0% 20% 40% 60% Other dreams mentioned by fewer than five percent are around marriage 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) 6
Top Challenge Facing the 50+ Top Challenge (n=302) Health care issues include the cost of health care and staying healthy. Health care issues 59% Economic issues include unemployment and having enough money to retire. Economic issues Other social issues 19% 20% 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) 7
Issues of Importance to the 50+ Today Issues of Importance and Extent to Which Needs Are Met for the 50+ Today (n=302) Receiving Medicare when needed Receiving Social Security when needed Staying mentally sharp Staying healthy Adequate health insurance coverage Protecting against consumer fraud Finding the best deals and discounts Spending time w/family&friends 52% 27% 41% 31% 36% 34% 49% 41% 98% 97% 97% 96% 94% 93% 90% 85% 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. 8
50+ Generational Concerns Confidence That Your Children s Generation Will Be Better Than It Has Been for You (n=302) Confident, 63% Not confident, 33% Not Sure/ Refused, 4% Source: 50+2. Do you feel confident or not confident that life for your children s generation will be better than it has been for you? 9
50+ Health Care Concerns Worry about Health Issues (n=302) Losing health care insurance Quality of health care services getting worse Staying mentally sharp Unable to pay for for a major illness or injury Unable to afford prescription drugs Having to pay more for your health care Unable to afford health care services Financial devastation due to health costs Staying healthy Finding a health care provider located near you Finding a health care provider that accepts your insurance 79% 78% 78% 77% 76% 75% 73% 68% 64% 64% 53% 8% 7% 8% 9% 5% 6% 11% 10% 7% 10% 10% 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? 10
50+ Long-Term Care Concerns Feel Informed about Long-Term Care Services Provided at Home and in Community Settings (n=302) Very informed, 18% Somewhat informed, 41% Extremely informed, 5% Not Sure/ Refused, <1% Not at all informed, 6% Not very informed, 28% Source: HLTC4. How informed would you say you are about long-term care services provided at home and in community settings? Are you extremely informed, very informed, somewhat informed, not very informed or not at all informed? 11
50+ Financial Concerns Difficulty Paying Electric Utility Bill (n=302) Very difficult, 31% Extremely difficult, 11% Somewhat difficult, 14% Not Sure/ Refused, 1% Not at all difficult, 9% Not very difficult, 35% Source: EUTIL3. Thinking of your current household finances, how difficult is it for you these days to pay your electric bill? Is it extremely difficult, very difficult, somewhat difficult, not very difficult, or not at all difficult? 12
50+ Financial Concerns Worry about Financial Issues (n=302) Public assistance benefits Maintaining finances and lifestyle in retirement Financial planning and saving for the future 74% 73% 70% 13% 11% 17% Providing financial support to family members Managing debt 64% 62% 13% 15% Access to work retirement savings plans 58% 9% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Extremely/Very Worried Somewhat Worried Source: ECON4. I m going to read to you a list of financial 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 ITEMS A THROUGH F BELOW]? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried? 13
50+ Work Concerns 49 percent of working adults 50+ say if the economy does not improve over the next 12 months they will delay complete retirement and work longer. Nearly one in ten are not sure how long they would delay retirement in order to work longer. Thirteen percent say they would never retire. Up to two years, 5% Length of Planned Delay to Retirement (n=76) Up to four years, 10% Up to three years, 0% Up to one year, 1% Not Sure, 8% Up to five years, 11% More than five years, <1% Never retire, 13% Source: WORK2. If the economy does NOT improve over the next 12 months, will you delay complete retirement and work longer? Source: WORK3. How much longer do you plan to delay complete retirement and work longer? Do you plan to delay up to one year, up to two years, up to three years, up to four years, up to five years, more than five years or do you plan to never retire? Base: Respondents who are employed. 14
50+ Transportation Concerns Walkability from Home to Community Locations (n=302) Your place of work, if employed 68% 30% A park or recreation area 81% 17% Your doctor s office 85% 14% Public transportation 86% 12% A bank or financial services center 88% 9% A pharmacy 90% 9% A grocery store 91% 8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Source: TRANS4. Can you safely walk from your home to [INSERT, READ AND RANDOMIZE ITEMS A THROUGH G BELOW]? Yes No 15
50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=302) AGE ETHNICITY 50-59 49% Hispanic/ Latino 100% 60-74 75+ 32% 19% RACE White 84% GENDER Male 43% Black Other 11% 4% Female 57% HOUSEHOLD INCOME DISABILITY Yes No 24% 74% <30K 30K-50K 50K-<75K 75K+ 35% 24% 15% <1% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 16
50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=302) EMPLOYED Employed Retired Unemployed Other 25% 34% 24% 15% PARTY AFFILIATION Democrat Republican Independent Tea Party/Other 6% 2% 2% 74% EDUCATION HS or less Post HS or 2 yr. degree 18% 59% POLITICAL VIEWS Liberal Moderate Conservative 23% 29% 35% 4 yr. degree Post grad no degree Graduate degree 5% 2% 9% AARP MEMBERSHIP Yes No 12% 82% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 17
50+ Survey Sample Demographics (n=302) Language Spoken at Home English only, 12% English most of the time, 1% Spanish only, 50% Spanish and English with Spanish preference, 16% Spanish and English with English preference, 2% Spanish most of the time, 10% Spanish and English equally, 8% 18
CONTACT For more information, please contact: Yvette Martinez, AARP New York Associate State Director (212) 407-3714 YMartinez@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 19