voices of 50-plus in new hampshire: opinions & perspectives · • ensuring retirement finances...

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Voices of 50-Plus in New Hampshire:Opinions & Perspectives

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Exec u tive S u m m ary

AARP has a strong commitment to help improve the lives of the 50-plus population. To help with this endeavor, AARP commissionedthis survey to gather information on the needs, interests andconcerns of residents in New Hampshire.

This random digit dial telephone survey of 1,000 adults age 50 andolder in New Hampshire was fielded between November 20th and30th 2014. The data presented here is weighted by age and genderto reflect the New Hampshire 50-plus population and has a samplingerror of 3.2%. The full annotated survey can be located atwww.aarp.org/research

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Exec u tive S u m m ary

• Health and financial security are very important in the lives of adults50 and older. More than nine in ten Granite Staters say stayinghealthy, staying mentally sharp, having enough money to meet dailyexpenses, and ensuring their retirement finances are adequate areextremely or very important to them.

• Many of the 50-plus in New Hampshire do not have everything theyneed to address what is most important to them. For instance,nearly a quarter of residents say they do not have what they need tolive comfortably and one in five do not have what they need toprotect themselves from consumer fraud.

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Exec u tive S u m m ary: Financ ialS ec u rity

• Ensuring retirement finances are adequate is extremely or very important to90 percent of New Hampshire residents age 50-plus, yet one out of five saythey do not have what they need to achieve this goal.

• Most employed residents age 50 and older plan to continue working at theirpresent job, or a similar one, for as long as they are able. The majority ofworking respondents say financial considerations would be a major factor indeciding whether to work beyond customary retirement age.

• Many working New Hampshire residents age 50 and older are notcontributing to a workplace savings program, most often because one is notoffered through their employer. Nearly seven out of ten residents age 50-plus in the state support the creation of a state-based work and saveprogram for those without access to a workplace savings program.

• With regard to health care concerns, New Hampshire adults 50 and olderare most worried about increasing health care costs, the possibility of losingtheir insurance, and becoming financially devastated because of illness.

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Exec u tive S u m m ary: Ind epend entL iving

• Being able to stay in their own homes as they age is very important to themajority of New Hampshire residents 50 and older but many do not feel theyhave what they need to do so. As such, nine out of ten support allowingfunds now used only for nursing homes to be used for home andcommunity-based services that allow people to stay in their own homes.

• The majority of New Hampshire residents 50 and older have beencaregivers for adult loved ones, and many more expect to be in the future.Being able to provide care to a loved one is very important to familycaregivers, despite the impact this role has had on those who wereemployed while doing so. As such, most caregivers say having support thatenables them to provide this care, such as information and respite services,is very helpful to have.

• There is widespread support for proposals that would help ensure thathospitals engage with family caregivers so that these residents can continueto provide care to their loved ones, regardless of whether they are in thehospital or transitioning home.

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Im portantFinanc ialIssu es forthe 50-P lu s

32%

52%

83%

83%

85%

87%

90%

90%

94%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Finding the best deals and discounts on localevents/activities

Finding the best deals and discounts on thingsthey want/need

Having affordable utility costs

Protecting against consumer fraud

Affording health care expenses/prescriptions

Having enough money to live comfortably

Receiving Social Security when needed

Making sure retirement finances are adequate

Having enough money to meet daily livingexpenses

P erc entage of50-P lu s in NH Rating Issu es as Extrem ely orVery Im portant(n=1000)

Q1. How important is each of the following in your life right now?

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Im portantH ealth and S oc ialIssu es forthe 50-P lu s

66%

82%

84%

88%

92%

94%

95%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Learning new things

Being able to stay in their own home as theyget older

Having quality long-term care for self/family

Receiving Medicare when needed

Adequate health insurance coverage

Staying mentally sharp

Staying healthy

P erc entage of50-P lu s in NH Rating Issu es as Extrem ely orVery Im portant(n=1000)

Q1. How important is each of the following in your life right now?

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H ealth C are C onc erns ofthe 50-P lu s

12%

15%

25%

26%

31%

32%

39%

20%

18%

23%

28%

27%

19%

32%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Finding a health care provider located nearby

Finding a health care provider that acceptsyour insurance

Unable to afford prescription drugs

Unable to afford health care services

Financial devastatation due to health costs

Losing health care insurance

Having to pay more for your health care

W orry abou tH ealth Issu es (n=1000)

Extremely/ Very Worried Somewhat Worried

Q4. 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 ITEM]? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried?

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H ealth S ec u rity A m ong the 50-P lu s

Extremely/Very

important,90%Somewhat

/Notimportant

8%

Im portanc e ofH aving A d equ ate H ealthInsu ranc e C overage (n=1000)

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Q1. How important is each of the following in your life right now: (Having adequate health insurance coverage}?Q4. 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. Howworried are you about [INSERT ITEM]? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried?

25%

39%

42%

44%

50%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Unable to affordprescription drugs

Unable to affordhealth care services

Losing health careinsurance

Financialdevastatation due tohealth costs

Having to pay morefor your health care

Resid ents in H ou sehold s Earning L ess Than$30 , 000 A re Extrem ely orVery W orried abou t

H ealth S ec u rity Issu es


Ind epend entL iving C onc erns A m ong the 50-P lu s

18%

19%

23%

27%

23%

30%

32%

33%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Staying in their current residence as long aspossible

Having someone who can care for them intheir home if needed

Being able to get around in the communitywhen they are no longer able to drive

Paying for care in a nursing home or otherLTC setting if needed

W orry abou tInd epend entL iving Issu es (n=1000)

Extremely/ Very Worried Somewhat WorriedQ3. I’m going to read to you a list of community issues that people sometimes worry about as they age. Please tell me how worried you are about each of the following. How worriedare you about [INSERT ITEM]? Are you extremely worried, very worried, somewhat worried, not very worried, or not at all worried?

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Q1. 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?

Extremelyimportant, 37%

Very important,45%

Somewhatimportant, 13%

Not veryimportant, 5%

Im portanc e ofB eing A ble to S tay in You rO wn H om e(n=1000)

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Strongly support,69% Somewhat

support, 21%

Neither supportnor oppose,

4%

Somewhat/Strongly oppose,

4%Not Sure, 2%

S u pportorO ppose A llowing Fu nd s Used O nly forNu rsing H om e C are to A lso B e Used forS ervic es

P rovid ed atH om e (n=1000)

Q15. 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 intheir own homes or communities? Do you strongly support, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose?

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C aregiving Issu es A m ong the 50-P lu s

Q5. Are you currently providing unpaid care to an adult loved one? Q7. Have you ever been a family caregiver who provided unpaid care to an adult loved one?Q11. How likely do you think it is that you will provide family caregiving or assistance on an unpaid basis for an adult loved one in the future?

54%

46%

12%

Likely will provide care in thefuture

Has provided care in the past

Is currently providing care

P erc entage of50-P lu s NH Resid ents W ho H ave B eenorExpec tto B e C aregivers

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Q12. How important is/was/would it be to you to be able to provide care for your adult loved one so that they can keep living independently in their own home?Would you say this is/was/would be extremely important, very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important?

Extremelyimportant,

48%

Very important,36%

Somewhatimportant,

9%Not very/Not at allimportant,

5%

Im portanc e ofB eingA ble to P rovid e C are forL oved O neto Enable TheirInd epend entL iving atH om e

(n=1000)

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Types ofC aregiving S u pport(n=7 39) Very orS om ewhatH elpfu lto H ave

Inform ation abou tavailable resou rc es forc aregivers inyou rc om m u nity

8 8 %

Respite c are orbreaks from c aregiving 8 7 %

A ssistanc e with hou sehold c hores 8 2%

A ssistanc e with provid ing transportation 8 2%

A ssistanc e with provid ing m eals 8 0%

C onnec ting with otherc aregivers in sim ilarsitu ations 7 5%

Und erstand ing how to m anage m ed ic ation 7 5%

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Q13. Asked of current, former or likely future caregivers: In your opinion, as a current or former caregiver, or as someone who may provide care in the future, howhelpful would the following types of caregiving support be to you? Would [INSERT ITEM] be very helpful, somewhat helpful, or not helpful?



60%40%

P erc entage ofC aregivers W ho W orkedW hile They W ere P rovid ing C are

(n=521)

Yes

No

13%

16%

20%

61%

Gave up working entirelyto provide care

Went from working full-time to part-time to

provide care

Took a leave of absencefrom job to provide care

Went into work early orlate, or took time off to

provide care

A c tions W orking C aregivers H aveTaken to P rovid e C are to an A d u lt

L oved O ne(n=313)

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Q9. Have you ever been employed either full or part-time while providing care to your adult loved one? Q10. Asked of those who were employed while caregiving:Did you ever have to [INSERT ITEM]?



77%

88%92%

Requiring hospitals/health carefacilities to record caregiverinformation upon admission

Requiring hospitals to keepcaregivers informed of major

decisions

Requiring hospitals/rehabs todemonstrate medical tasks to

caregivers

S u pportforRequ iring H ospitals to Engage with C aregivers(n=1000)

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Q14. I’m going to read some proposals to you about family caregiving support and I’d like to know how strongly you support or oppose each one. Do you stronglysupport, somewhat support, neither support nor oppose, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose [INSERT ITEM]?


Financ ialS ec u rity A m ong the 50-P lu s

Extremely/Very

important,90%

Notimportant

10%

Im portanc e ofM aking S u re Retirem entFinanc es are A d equ ate (n=1000)

23%

32%

33%

36%

Age 50-64

No workplace savings

Not married

Income <$30K

P erc entage ThatD o NotH ave W hatThey Need forA d equ ate Retirem ent

Financ es

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Q1. How important is each of the following in your life right now: (Making sure your retirement finances are adequate}? Q2. Asked of those who say it is extremelyor very important: Do you have what you need to [make sure your retirement finances are adequate] No/Not sure?



10%

13%

39%

46%

55%

70%

Something else

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

Retirement account not through an employers, suchas an IRA, Keogh

Personal investments in stocks/bonds

Workplace savings account

Personal savings account

Types ofRetirem entS avings O ptions To W hic h New H am pshireResid ents A ge 50-P lu s A re C ontribu ting

(n=1000)

Q17. Do you currently contribute to any of the following retirement savings options?

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7%

8%

25%

27%

32%

Not interested in contributing right now

Spouse/partner contributes

Some other reason

Don't have extra money to contribute

Workplace doesn't offer it

Reasons Em ployed New H am pshire Resid ents A ge 50-P lu s A reNotC ontribu ting to aW orkplac e S avings P lan

(n=224)

Q18. (Employed but not contributing to a workplace savings plan) Which one statement best describes why you do not contribute to a workplace savings plan? Is it…[INSERT ITEM]?

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Q19. One proposal to help people without access to retirement savings at work would be to set up a New Hampshire retirement savings plan, authorized by thestate and likely run by the private sector. This plan would be voluntary and professionally managed with low fees. The plan would not use taxpayer dollars to run.How strongly do you support or oppose this plan?

Strongly support,38%

Somewhatsupport,

29%

Neithersupport/oppose,

12%

Somewhat oppose,6%

Strongly oppose,9%

Not Sure/ Refused,6%

S u pportorO ppose the C reation ofaW orkand S ave P lan in NH(n=1000)

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Views on Em ploym entA m ong the 50-P lu s

1%

1%

3%

4%

9%

10%

13%

57%

Go back to school or into a job training program

Start own business

Change careers

Work as a consultant or on an as needed basis

Work part-time and pursue my hobbies, volunteer,travel, etc.

Retire and never return to work

Continue working at my present/similar job, but withreduced hours

Continue working at my present/similar job as longas I am able

W hat’ s Nextin W orkL ife forEm ployed Granite S taters A ge 50-P lu s (n=524)

Q20. (Employed/Unemployed but looking for work respondents) Which of the following best describes what you plan to do next in your work life? Would you [INSERT ITEM]?

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Views on Em ploym entA m ong the 50-P lu s

31%

38%

42%

44%

46%

49%

54%

59%

67%

19%

31%

23%

31%

36%

27%

27%

15%

18%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Fulfilling requirements for pension

Paying for prescription drugs

Providing benefits for family

Qualify/increase Social Security benefits

Needing/wanting the extra income

Paying health insurance premiums and co-pays

Building up savings

Maintaining health insurance

Enjoying the job/working

Fac tors in D ec id ing to W orkP astC u stom ary Retirem entA ge(n=524)

Major factor Minor factor

Q20. (Employed/Unemployed but looking for work respondents) To what extent would [INSERT ITEM] be a factor in your decision to work beyond customary retirement age?

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Respond entD em ographic s (n=1000)

31%

28%

20%

52%

48%

40%

60%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

75K+

30K-<75K

<30K

HOUSEHOLDINCOME

Female

Male

GENDER

65+

50-64

AGE

8%

2%

39%

50%

6%

13%

12%

68%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Other

Unemployed

Retired

Employed

EMPLOYED

Never married

Widowed

Divorced/Separated

Married/Living with…

MARITAL STATUS

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Respond entD em ographic s (n=1000)

21%

7%

17%

25%

29%

55%

44%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Graduate degree

Post grad no degree

4 yr. degree

Post HS or 2 yr. degree

HS or less

EDUCATION

No

Yes

AARP MEMBERSHIP

32%

42%

17%

2%

47%

25%

21%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Conservative

Moderate

Liberal

POLITICAL VIEWS

Other

Independent

Republican

Democrat

PARTY AFFILIATION

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C ontac ts

• Tod d Fahey, S tate D irec tor, A A RP New H am pshire– TFahey@ aarp. org– (603)230-4109

• Jam ie B u len, C om m u nic ations D irec tor, A A RP New H am pshire– JB u len@ aarp. org– (603)230-4103

• D ou g M c Nu tt, A d voc ac y D irec tor, A A RP New H am pshire– D M c Nu tt@ aarp. org– 603-230-4106

• Kate B rid ges, S eniorResearc hA d visor, A A RP Researc h C enter– KB rid ges@ aarp. org– (202)434-6329

A A RP is anonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with am em bershipofnearly 38 m illion, thathelps people tu rn theirgoals and d ream s into realpossibilities,strengthens c om m u nities and fights forthe issu es thatm atterm ostto fam ilies su c h as healthc are, em ploym entand inc om e sec u rity, retirem entplanning, afford ableu tilities and protec tion from financ ialabu se. W e ad voc ate forind ivid u als in the m arketplac e by selec ting prod u c ts and servic es ofhigh qu ality and valu e to c arry theA A RP nam e as wellas help ou rm em bers obtain d isc ou nts on awid e range ofprod u c ts, travel, and servic es. A tru sted sou rc e forlifestyle tips, news and ed u c ationalinform ation, A A RP prod u c es A A RP The M agazine, the world 's largestc irc u lation m agazine; A A RP B u lletin; www. aarp. org; A A RP TV & Rad io; A A RP B ooks; andA A RP en Español, aS panish-langu age website ad d ressing the interests and need s ofH ispanic s. A A RP d oes notend orse c and id ates forpu blic offic e orm akec ontribu tions to politic alc am paigns orc and id ates. The A A RP Fou nd ation is an affiliated c harity thatprovid es sec u rity, protec tion, and em powerm entto old erpersons in need with su pportfrom thou sand s ofvolu nteers, d onors, and sponsors. A A RP has staffed offic es in all50 states, the D istric tofC olu m bia, P u erto Ric o,and the U. S . Virgin Island s. L earn m ore atwww. aarp. org.

Copyright © 2015 AARP Research Center, 601 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20049Reprinting withPerm ission

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voices of 50-plus in new hampshire: opinions & perspectives · • ensuring retirement finances...

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