|
E-mail this page to a friend!
Senior Citizen Statistics
Senior Citizens Most Concerned about Health; Get
News from Doctor, Internet
Primarily want to maintain mental ability fear
Alzheimer's the most
 August
23, 2006 About seven out of ten senior citizens are concerned about
their health and wellbeing and 80 percent try to keep up with health
news mostly from their doctor, but secondly on the Internet.
Preserving their mental function is the biggest health concern and
Alzheimer's is the disease they fear most. These are part of the
findings in a survey of American ages 63 to 80 for UnitedHealthcare's
SecureHorizons.
The Senior Security Study was national survey of
seniors ages conducted to identify what seniors want and are most
concerned about across a wide range of lifestyle, wellness and
healthcare topics. Among the surveys top findings:
| |
Related Stories |
|
| |
Boomers May Feel Burdened by Aging Parents but
Seniors See it Differently
Assisting children doesn't end
with empty nest
or even when you retire
August 18, 2006 There are many articles and
studies showing how Baby Boomers are burdened by their aging parents.
There is, however, a flip-side to this. Senior citizens are finding that
providing assistance to their children doesnt end when they leave the
nest or even when you retire.
Read more...
Almost 14 Million Senior Citizens Now Online
Estimated 172 million U.S. adults Online 77% of
population
May 28, 2006 A Harris Poll released last week
shows there are now 172 million American adults online and almost 14
million of those are senior citizens age 65 and older. Seniors online
are eight percent of the total, which has increased by five percent
since last year.
Read more...
Fewer Seniors Working but They Are Healthy, Wealthy
and Wise
U.S. Census Bureau report on seniors looks at work
and retirement
March 11, 2006 The percent of older men - senior
citizens 65 and older - in America's workforce declined dramatically
over the past decades from 46 percent in 1950 to only 19 percent in
2003, but for senior women there has been no change. But many seniors
continue to work, many part-time, primarily because they enjoy their
work. These are some of the findings about older workers in a new report
by the U.S. Census Bureau, that also says older workers are relatively
healthy, prosperous, and well educated.
Read more...
Read more
Statistics on Senior Citizens |
|
More Seniors Care about Health than Wealth:
Nearly seven out of ten seniors (69%) expressed
concerns about their health and wellbeing, a larger percentage
than expressed concern about other categories such as personal
finance (52%), often considered a top source of anxiety among older
Americans; spiritual wellbeing (58%) and receiving adequate
care in old age (56%).
Most Staying Up-to-Date on Healthcare:
Eighty percent of seniors reported that they keep
up to date on the latest health news. Doctors, at 43%, are
the most popular source of health information for seniors. The
Internet (25%) is the second most common resource consulted by
seniors, although younger respondents were more likely to go online for
health answers than older ones.
Maintaining Mental Sharpness a Priority:
Preserving their mental function is a bigger
concern among seniors than the relationship issues, mood disorders and
emotional problems that can accompany aging.
● Nearly 6 out of 10 seniors (59%) are concerned
about staying mentally sharp.
● Less than half (48%) say they are concerned about maintaining
social relationships.
● Less than one-third are concerned with dealing with depression
(32%).
● Less than a third are concerned with dealing loneliness
(31%).
We conducted this survey to find out what really
matters to seniors, said Rick Jelinek, Chief Executive Officer of
SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare.
Given our exclusive focus on helping seniors 65
and older 'live secure, be secure,' its crucial that we know their
biggest concerns. As the Senior Security Study reveals, seniors today
want to maintain a healthy, independent lifestyle and want to make
sure that their healthcare coverage helps them achieve this goal
affordably and in a way that meets their specific needs.
Jelinek said the company has also launched a new
Website -
www.iLiveSecure.com - to help seniors navigate the Medicare system
and connect with "valuable tips" for maintaining their health and
wellbeing.
Health and Wellbeing Matter to More Seniors than
Personal Finances
Senior concerns about their health and wellbeing
covered a broad range of issues. The most common concerns among seniors
include maintaining their health and mobility (62%) and
maintaining an active lifestyle (55%).
A majority of seniors also care about availability
of affordable prescription drugs (55%).
"We know the cost of prescription drugs has been a
big concern with seniors, especially low-income seniors, said Jelinek.
Thats why we've worked so hard with our partners at the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services to bring affordable drugs to this
population through Medicare Part D coverage. With more than 38 million
beneficiaries enrolled in the program, Part D is helping seniors manage
their drug costs. Its one of the many ways were helping them live
secure, be secure.
While 69% of respondents mentioned health as a
concern, only 52% say they were worried about their finances and
58% were concerned about their spiritual wellbeing.
The most common spiritual concern among
seniors is being at peace before they die (45%).
About the same number say they are concerned about
maintaining their health to attend religious services (44%).
However, relatively few seniors (27%) regret not living a more spiritual
life.
Regarding their personal finances, more than half
(54%) of seniors are concerned with having enough money to last
the rest of their life. Nearly half of seniors are also concerned with
paying for long term care (48%) and understanding how their
health coverage works (47%).
Seniors Look to Doctors and the Internet for
Information on Staying Healthy and Active
Staying informed on health and wellbeing is
a priority for most seniors, with 80% reporting that they keep up to
date on the latest health news. After physicians, at 43%, the
Internet is the most popular source of information -- one quarter of
respondents say they looked online for health answers, although younger
seniors age 63-64 (46%) are more likely to go online for health answers
than 65-72 year olds (27%) and 73-80 year olds (18%).
Other top resources for respondents include
magazines (22%), newspapers (20%) and television
(18%).
In general, men and women relied on the same
sources of information, although women were more than twice as likely as
men to get their health information from television (23% compared
to 10%).
Seniors More Concerned about Mental Health than
Relationships, Loneliness and Depression
Maintaining mental sharpness (59%) is a
commonly cited concern among seniors. In contrast, less than half
(48%) say they are concerned about maintaining social relationships.
Roughly one third of respondents express concern
about depression (32%). About the same percentage of respondents
(31%) say they are concerned about loneliness, one of the most
commonly noted emotional health issues among the elderly.
When asked what specific mental health condition
concerned them most, Alzheimers topped the list, with 22% of
seniors saying they are concerned about the disease.
Many seniors also have questions about paying for
mental health expenses 45% of them are concerned about knowing
whether their health insurance plan covers mental health care.
Methodology
For the SecureHorizons Secure Senior Study,
Market Strategies, Inc. conducted telephone interviews nationally and
across ten key markets with heads of households ages 63-80 who
participate in healthcare decisions for their household. A total of 400
national interviews were conducted from July 21-25, 2006, while a total
of 750 market interviews were conducted from July 26-August 2, 2006.
The national survey, which serves as a comparative benchmark for the
individual market results, provides a statistical precision of +/- 4.9
percentage points at the 95% confidence level. In order to participate,
respondents could not themselves work, or have an immediate household
member who works, in the health care industry, for a market research
firm or in the advertising industry.
About SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare
SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare claims to be
the countrys leading Medicare Advantage plan provider. Exclusively
focused on the health and well-being of seniors, particularly those 65
and older enrolled in Medicare, SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare helps
them Live Secure, Be Secure. The SecureHorizons by UnitedHealthcare
brand is nationally recognized for offering choices within Medicare
Advantage and other products that promote health, wellness, delivery and
accessibility for seniors at the best possible price through one of the
nations largest provider networks.
Click to More Senior News on the
Front Page
Copyright: SeniorJournal.com |
