Quality of Life - AARP · Annual Quality of Life Index 2005 Quality of Life Index Figures represent median values; half of over-50 are above, half are below Dollars are constant 2003

THE STATE OF

50+2005

AMERICA

↑↓

The power to make it better.™

Annual Quality of Life IndexAnnual Quality of Life Index

20052005Released: April 25, 2005Released: April 25, 2005

Annual Quality of Life Index 2005

Quality of Life Index

Based on broad areas of human experience

1. Economic Security

2. Health

3. Independent Living/Long-Term Care

4. Social and Lifestyle Needs


Quality of Life Index

Figures represent median values; half of over-50 are above, half are below

Dollars are constant 2003 dollars

Distributional trends may be equally important, but are not measured here

25 Charts follow – for entire report and sources of data see AARP Pub. D18211


Median Family Income

$45,

307

$26,

380

$17,

817

$49,

436

$27,

830

$19,

367

$49,

600

$28,

808

$19,

127

$0

$10,000

$20,000

$30,000

$40,000

$50,000

$60,000

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199320022003

1


Median Financial Assets

61.8

%

15.8

%

5.6%20.8

%

66.9

%

5.4%21

.7%

67.0

%

5.9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199320022003

2


Percent of Population above 200% Poverty

(Minimal Adequate Income)

49.4

%

79.4

%

67.9

%

54.6

%

79.3

%

67.5

%

53.8

%63.9

%75.3

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199320022003

3


% age 62+ with more than ½ of income from OTHER than Social Security

62.2

%

38.7

%

61.5

%

41.1

%

61.3

%

40.0

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

62 to 74 75+

199320022003

4


Pension Coverage Rate

50.0

%

24.4

%

12.2

%

53.2

%

27.3

%

18.0

%

53.8

%

26.1

%

19.3

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

1993

2002

2003

5


Employment Rate

61.8

%

15.8

%

5.6%20.8

%

66.9

%

5.4%21

.7%

67.0

%

5.9%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199320022003

6


Labor Force Participation Rate

70.1

%

21.8

%

69.8

%

22.6

%

6.2%

5.9%

16.6

%

65.0

%

5.6%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199320022003

7


Percent who Report they are “Better off than last year”

23%

6%

12%19

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

20032004

8


Percent who Report Confidence in Retirement Future

73% 78

% 83%

63%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

20032004

9


Percent who Report No Increase in Personal Debt

78%

87% 91

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

2004

10


Percent who Report “Excellent” or “Very Good” Health

52.4

%

40.8

%

34.6

%

54.5

%

42.6

%

32.9

%

53.9

%

41.9

%

32.1

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199220012002

11


Medicare Beneficiaries with Rx Drug Coverage throughout Year

51.1

% 56.7

%

58.4

%

54.8

%

57.4

%

57.9

%

55.2

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

65+ or disabled 65 to 74 75+

199520002001

12


Percent 50-64 with Health Insurancefrom any source, any part of year

87.1% 86.9% 86.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64

199920022003

13


Percent able to afford Medical Care when needed during past 12 months

94.3

%

97.4

%

98.2

%

97.4

%

98.3

%

93.9

%

97.0

%

98.1

%

94.4

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199720012002

14


Medical Bills have been a“Financial Problem”

18% 22

%

20%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

55-64 65+ Total 50+

From page 40


Categories of 50+ reporting Financial Problems from Medical Bills

36%

24%

13%

34%

35%

33%

0%20%40%60%80%

100%

Uninsu

redMed

icare-

cove

redOthe

r insu

rance

Disable

d

Incom

es un

der $

25,00

0Afric

an A

merica

ns

From page 40


How People dealt with Financial Difficulties due to Medical Bills

26%

19%

7% 9% 1%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Cut

bac

k on

disc

retio

nary

spen

ding

Use

d sa

ving

sde

sign

ated

for o

ther

Cut

bas

icne

cess

citie

s

Borr

owed

or

wen

t int

ode

bt

File

d fo

rba

nkru

ptcy

From page 40


Percent who are Physically Active

26.9

%

24.1

%

14.2

%26.1

%

15.1

%

28.8

%

25.6

%

28.9

%

16.3

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199820012002

15

All gain due to over 75


Percent Not Overweight and Not Obese

35.6

%

39.1

%

52.3

%

34.6

% 45.8

%

31.5

%

34.3

%

47.0

%

31.7

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199820022003

16


Percent without Possible Signs of Depression

83.6

%

84.8

%

80.4

%

82.4

%

77.1

%85.2

%

85.2

%

82.1

%

81.2

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199720012002

17


Percent of Expenditures for“Non-Necessities

50.2

%

41.3

%

34.3

%42.2

%

36.4

%

50.0

%

43.5

%

36.1

%

50.4

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199020012002

18


Percent who Use the Internet

31.3

%

12.3

%

4.3%

70%

45%

23%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

19982004

19


Percent “very satisfied” with contact with Family, Friends, Neighbors

69% 77

%

70%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

2004

20


Percent who report Quality of Life “Improved” in past 12 months

18%

12%

8%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

2004

21


Percent Living with NO Functional Limitations

96.1

%

92.6

%

77.8

%

92.6

%

80.0

%

96.0

%

93.5

%

79.9

%

96.2

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

199720012002

22


Percent of Caregivers with no “substantial” Caregiving Burdens

70.0

%

58.0

% 67.0

%77.0

%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

20032004

23


“Rarely or never” miss something due to lack of transportation

95% 92%88%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

2004

24


Percent who Rate Neighborhood Safe

89%86% 87%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

50 to 64 65 to 74 75+

2004

25


Summary

Bottom line: Improvements in a decade but vulnerability remains:

1. Some economic improvement, but many lag behind

More than half have no pension40-50% of 65+ still below 200% of official poverty level


Summary

2. Health vulnerability not improving

Fewer than half report “very good” or “excellent” health status13% of 50-64 without health coverage43% of 65+ lack stable drug coverageMedical bills a financial problem for 1 in 5


Summary

3. Combination of economic pressures:

Erratic stock marketLow interest rates on investmentsIncreasing health costs Weak job market


Summary

Social Security and Medicare more important than ever

Pension and health coverage for ages 50-64 crucial

Rising Health Costs serious problem for all ages

THE STATE OF

50+2005

AMERICA

↑↓

The power to make it better.™

Documents

Quality of Life - AARP · Annual Quality of Life Index 2005 Quality of Life Index Figures represent median values; half of over-50 are above, half are below Dollars are constant 2003