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Alaska Commission on Aging’s Survey of Senior Concerns 2005

Alaska Commission on Aging’s Survey of Senior Concerns 2005. Total Responses: 1,451 Senior Responses: 1,256 Boomer et al Responses: 195. Demographic Characteristics of Respondents. Typical survey respondent was: Female Age 77 Alaska resident for more than 40 years Living alone

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Alaska Commission on Aging’s Survey of Senior Concerns 2005

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  1. Alaska Commission on Aging’sSurvey of Senior Concerns2005 Total Responses: 1,451 Senior Responses: 1,256 Boomer et al Responses: 195

  2. Demographic Characteristics of Respondents • Typical survey respondent was: • Female • Age 77 • Alaska resident for more than 40 years • Living alone • Anchorage resident • Living in own home • Driver of own car • Volunteer in the community • Not a user of any senior services

  3. What Seniors Want in Housing • 21.5% of seniors overall say they would like some other type of housing • Types of housing they would like: • Own home, or downsized home • Single level home • Condo or townhouse in seniors-only development • Planned community, retirement community • Senior housing for middle-income people • Better maintained building – more heat, repairs, less noise, safer • Indoor plumbing, running water, kitchen, larger space • Assisted living apartment with personal care and meals • Independent living apartment with some services • Senior community with assisted living and nursing home care • More senior housing • Affordable housing

  4. Typical “Other” Income Sources: • Income from rental properties • Annuity • Trust • VA pension • Military disability • Food bank; heating and fuel assistance • Self-employment • Inheritance

  5. Typical “Other” Problems Accessing Health Care: • Doctors not accepting Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross, TriCare • Doctors not taking new patients/seniors • Can’t get dental care, eye care, home health care • Doctors don’t listen, charge excessively, messed up my meds, incompetent • Shortage of specialists, gerontologists • VA care difficult to access

  6. Seniors in the Community • More than half (56%) volunteer their services on a regular basis • 16% work outside the home for pay • Many act as family caregivers: • 9% care for elderly family members • 8% care for a person with a disability • 8% provide child care • 40% visit a Senior Center regularly • 79% know where to go with questions about services for seniors

  7. Reasons for Lack of Involvement: • Health, disability, mobility concerns (45%) • Not enough time (16%) • Transportation problems (11%) • Caregiver responsibilities (7%) • Financial issues (3%) • Job responsibilities (2%) • Other reasons (16%)

  8. Typical “Other” Reasons for Lack of Involvement: • “Age,” “old age,” “too old,” “too tired” • Busy with personal interests • Don’t know about opportunities available • Live too far from town • People of a different political persuasion are in charge of everything • Weather, ice, darkness

  9. Senior Services: Little Used, Mostly Appreciated • Senior Center meals are the service used by the most seniors (27%) • Senior Center meals are also the service with the greatest percentage of satisfied users (92%) • Usage of other services ranged from 15% down to 2% • Chore service had the lowest percentage of satisfied users (61%)

  10. Seniors’ Concerns About Financial Security • Fixed income can’t keep up with accelerating cost of living • Insecurity about Social Security • Cost of housing, services, care • Being able to afford to stay in Alaska • End of Longevity Bonus creates hardship; fear loss of other senior benefits • High property taxes, other taxes • Cost of food, fuel, transportation • Costs of health care and medication • Costs of long term care

  11. Seniors’ Comments About Leadership Vacuum as Greatest Problem • Lack of support from the legislature – they want seniors to leave Alaska • State apathy towards senior citizens • State and federal governments refusing to honor their commitments to us – we paid our dues • Unstable state financing for programs • Lack of good state fiscal policy • Politicians endangering Social Security and Medicare • Need to ensure Permanent Fund will still be available for our children and grandchildren • Reduce government spending • Resources of Alaska should be developed for the benefit of Alaskans • Balance the state budget

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