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 –Anchorage resident –Living in own home –Driver of own car –Volunteer in the community –Not a user of any senior services

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

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

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

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

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%)

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

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%)

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

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