Elderly Near Poor Have Health Issues
A new study by UCLA researchers has concluded that Californians over the age of 65 with relatively low incomes are more likely to to have health problems and suffer from depression.
Moreover, there are a lot of near-poor Californians over the age of 65: some 655,000 in total in 2013, according to data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. By comparison, only 259,000 elderly Californians live below the federal poverty level.
The UCLA report referred to this large group as the “near-poor.” They earn above the federal poverty level – $11,770 -- but below the federal “Elder Index” that would guarantee relative economic security for an older person. In California, that's about $23,364 for a single person.
That small amount of additional income compared to the officially poor often disqualifies them for enrollment in Medi-Cal and other programs that would guarantee them better health benefits, the study concluded.
According to the survey, nearly 34% of those who live below the Elder Index cutoff reported their health as being only fair or poor. That's not much better than the 47.3% of elders living below the poverty line who described their health as fair or poor. Above the Elder Index, just 17.5% said their health was fair or poor.
Moreover, 10.6% of those living below the Elder Index reported suffering from depression. Among those who lived below the poverty line, only 10.2% reported depression.
The income issues also created problems seeking healthcare services. More than 22% of those living below the Elder Index line said they had difficulty getting timely medical care. That’s nearly double the 11.9% of those who live above the Elder Index.
"There are far more 'under-the-radar' poor than 'officially' poor people in California and throughout the nation," said Steven P. Wallace, lead author of the study and and an associate director of the UCLA Center. "They have financial troubles and health issues that may be related to their economic situation, but outdated poverty measurements keep them in the blind spot of planners and policymakers."
The study concluded that “these data show that the Elder Index identifies a population of individuals who have high needs for healthcare and other services but who are likely to be among the hidden poor, but “because their incomes are above the FPL, these older Californians are less likely to be identified and prioritized in planning and programs for assistance.
The study suggested policymakers take a closer look at the “gap in income these older adults face as they struggle to make ends meet after a lifetime of contributing to society."
