pa voters age 50+ and the 2014 election

8/11/2019 PA Voters Age 50+ and the 2014 Election

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Pennsylvania Voters Age50+ and the 2014 ElectionKey Findings from a Survey among Likely Voters Age 50/over

Conducted June 2014

for


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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP

Methodology

Statewide telephone survey among 800 likely 2014voters age 50/over (margin of error 3.5 percentage points),conducted June 30-July 10, 2014, including:

446 retirees (margin of error 4.6 percentage points)

354 non-retirees (margin of error 5.2 percentage points)

Respondents were selected at random from a list ofregistered voters and were reached either on alandline or mobile phone.

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Overview

Likely voters 50+ are worried and concerned about theirfinancial futures. Those who are not yet retired arefeeling especially anxious.

Voters worry that their incomes are not keeping up with

the cost of living, especially health costs and taxes. Many of those not yet retired worry that a secure

retirement will be out of reach.

Half say they have postponed or will postpone

retirement. Voters 50+ are looking to elect candidates who will focus

on improving their financial security.

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Overview

Challenger Tom Wolf holds a 23-point lead in the

gubernatorial race, with 11% of 50+ voters still undecided. Voters say it is hard to get good information about the

candidates, and they want candidates to tell them moreabout their plans for key issues like affordable utilities,

independent living, and financial security. Voters want more support for caregiving so that the elderly

and people with disabilities can live independently.Caregivers and those who have received care constitute an

important emerging constituency. In addition, the majority of voters believe PA lottery funds should be

used to pay for at-home care, as opposed to care provided in anursing home.

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Profile of Likely Voters Age 50/over

5

Men

Women

Age 50 to 64Age 65 to 74Age 75/over

High school grad/less educationSome college

College graduate

WhitesNon-whites

Household income under $30KHousehold income $30 to $50KHousehold income over $50K

DemocratsOtherRepublicans

Receive Social Security benefitsHealth insurance through MedicareEmployed (part time or full time)

Non-retirees

48%

52%

86%11%3%

36%17%

41%

90%10%

13%14%52%

46%9%45%

14%17%83%

Retirees

47%

53%

23%40%35%

45%19%

32%

86%14%

33%17%25%

46%10%44%

82%75%13%

Gender

Age

Education

Household

Income

Party

Registration

Other

Race


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ECONOMIC SECURITY

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7/31Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP

Voters 50+ see the economy as more good than badoverall, especially the college educated and politicalindependents.

7

How would you rate the condition of the economy here in Pennsylvania these days?

PA economy

is good

PA economy

is bad

Very good5%

52%

Very bad

18%

44%

All votersPA economy

is good

53%

50%54%49%

47%50%59%

52%

64%49%

59%49%37%54%

PA economyis bad

41%

47%41%46%

48%46%37%

44%

35%45%

35%46%58%41%

Retirees

Non-retireesMenWomen

High school grad/lessSome collegeCollege graduate

Democrats

OtherRepublicans

Pittsburgh media marketHarrisburg/Lancaster/York marketWilkes-Barre/Scranton marketPhiladelphia media market



27% 23%

10% 10%

Strongly satisfied Somewhat satisfiedStrongly dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

A fourth of 50+ voters, and particularly women, aredissatisfied with their financial situation.

8

Satisfaction with Own Financial Situation Today

73%

26%

RetireesNon-retirees

75%

22%

Dissatisfied

(retirees)

16%27%

20%35%

27%13%

MenWomen

WhitesNon-whites

Income under $40KIncome over $40K

Dissatisfied

(non-retirees)

20%31%

26%25%

36%23%



30%

4%

A large majority say that their income is falling behindthe cost of living.

9

Assessment of Income vs. Cost of Living

All voters

My income isstaying abouteven with cost

of living

My income is

going up fasterthan cost of living

MY INCOMEIS FALLING

BEHIND THECOST OF

LIVING63%

64%63%

70%

65%55%

72%

72%

52%

RetireesNon-retirees

High school grad/lessSome collegeCollege graduates

Income under $30KIncome $30K to $50KIncome over $50K

Incom e Is Fal l ing Behind



32% 33% 31%

57%52%

62%

More hopeful and confident More worried and concerned

Voters 50+ are more worried than hopeful aboutachieving their economic and financial goals, especiallythose not yet retired.

10

Looking ahead to the next five years or so, do you feel more hopeful and confident, or more

worried and concerned about being able to achieve your economic and financial goals?

All voters Retirees Non-retirees

Non-retirees

58%67%

62%63%

55%64%70%

MenWomen



More Worr ied and Concerned



The Economic Anxiety Index

Voters are assigned 20 points for each of five economic concernsabout which they say they worry very or somewhat often. A minimumscore of 0 reflects no economic anxiety, while a maximum score of100 indicates a great deal of economic anxiety.

The five component concerns of the anxiety index are:

Having to pay too much in taxes

Income not keeping up with the cost of living

Having health expenses they cannot afford

Not having financial security in retirement

Not having enough to pay for home care or a nursinghome when they or their spouse get older

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Components of the Economic Anxiety Index

12

45%

45%

47%

55%

61%

Proportions Who Say They Worry Very or Somewhat Often about Each Economic Concern

Having to pay toomuch in taxes

Income not keepingup with cost of living

Having healthexpenses I cannot

afford

Not having financialsecurity in retirement

Not having enough topay for home care or

nursing home formyself or my spouse

Retirees

57%

51%

42%

37%

42%

Non-retirees

67%

60%

52%

56%

49%

All voters



0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

46

57

Economic Anxiety Index Scores

13

Maximum score

Minimum score

ANXIETY

INDEX

Retirees Non-retirees

5559

59

56

61

52

60

56

555759

60

54

MenWomen

Unmarried

Married

Non-college gradsCollege graduates



Caregivers/past caregiversNon-caregivers

Key Subgro ups o f Non-ret i rees

Mean scores



The majority of both retired and non-retired voters 50+are satisfied with their retirement savings, althoughwomen and non-retirees are slightly less so.

27%

15%15% 19%

Strongly satisfied Somewhat satisfiedStrongly dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied

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Satisfaction with Amount of Money Saving/Saved for Retirement

Retirees

64%

30%

Non-retirees

59%

36%

Dissatisfied

(retirees)

27%33%

36%22%

MenWomen


Dissatisfied

(non-retirees)

34%39%

51%33%



A majority of non-retirees say they have or will delaytheir retirement for financial reasons.

57% 63%55% 58% 56%

61%55%

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Proportions Saying They Have Delayed or Expect to Delay Retirement in Order toSave More Money to Live Comfortably in Retirement

Unmarried Married Age50 to 59

Age60/over

Incomeunder $40K

All non-retirees

Incomeover $40K


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THE 2014 ELECTION

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38%

53%

Voters 50+ are disappointed with Washington, givingPresident Obama low approval scores.

18

Job Approval of President Obama

Approve

Disapprove

All voters



11%

In the gubernatorial election, challenger Tom Wolf holdsthe lead with voters 50+, with approximately one in tenstill undecided.

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Trial Heat for Pennsylvania Governor

UndecidedTomWolf

TomCorbett

Definitelyvote for

42%Definitely

vote for

19%

Tom

Wolf

51%61%

58%62%

59%52%55%

53%77%

83%

58%28%

33%

56%

All voters

MenWomen

Unmarried womenMarried women


WhitesNon-whites


Tom

Corbett

38%

29%

31%29%

31%41%31%

36%12%

9%31%60%


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Nearly half of undecided voters say it is hard to findobjective and reliable information about candidatesrunning for office this November.

19%12%

16%25%

Very easy Somewhat easy

Very hard Somewhat hard

20

Is it easy or hard to find objective and reliable information about the record and

positions of candidates running for office this November?

All voters

49%

35%

Undecided voters in Gubernatorial Race

35%

48%


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55%41%

4%

The cost of utilities is a growing concern for a majorityof 50+ voters, and three-fifths say affordability is veryimportant in helping them make a voting decision.

22

THE COSTOF UTILITIESHAS BECOME

MORE OF ACONCERN

The cost of utilities has

become less of a concern

All voters

My concern

about the cost

of utilities

hasnt changed

Thinking about heating my home last winter

or cooling it this summer:

All voters

MenWomen



Undecided voters

62%

58%66%

59%64%68%

66%65%57%

64%

Proportions Who Say CandidatesPositionson Affordable Utilities Are Very Important intheir Vote for Governor


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A majority of 50+ voters believe it is important forconsumers to have a default electric plan priced atthe lowest reasonable rate. Voters also want a cap

on variable rate plans.

33%

48%

10% 7%

Extremely important Very important

Not important Somewhat important

23

Importance of Having Default Electric Plan for

Consumers Priced at Lowest Reasonable Rate

All voters

62%

30%

All voters

77%

16%

Importance of Having Cap on Rates for Electric

Customers Who Have Variable Rate Plans


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CAREGIVING

24


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71%

19%

10%

Seven in ten voters 50+ prefer at-home care overother options for themselves/family.

25

If a family member or I need help when basic tasks of life become difficult due toaging or illness, I would prefer to receive that help:

Other*

AT HOMEWITH

CAREGIVERASSISTANCE

*15% assisted living facility,

4% nursing home

Not sure

All voters


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Many voters 50+ have at some point been a caregiver*to family member or expect to become one in the future.

17%

36%

20%

24%

26

Currentcaregivers

Likely to becaregiver in

future

Not likely to becaregiver in future

All voters

* Caregiver is defined as someone who provides unpaid care for an adult loved one whois ill, frail, elderly, or has a physical, mental, or emotional disability. This unpaid caremay include assisting with personal needs such as bathing and dressing, householdchores, meals, shopping, transportation, or managing finances or medical care.

Pastcaregivers

11% of voters age50+ report that theyor their spouse havereceived care from afamily caregiver.


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Caregiver Households*

27

All non-retirees

MenWomen

UnmarriedMarried

Age 50 to 59Age 60/over

Non-college gradsCollege grads


Non-retirees

54%

52%57%

53%55%

52%59%

53%56%

49%54%

All retirees

MenWomen

UnmarriedMarried


Non-college gradsCollege grads


Retirees

58%

48%67%

54%60%

64%52%

57%63%

53%65%

* Those households where unpaid care is currently being provided, or has been provided in the past


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Voters 50+ want their elected officials to makeavailability of at-home care a priority.

28

How important a priority should it be for elected officials to make services that help olderadults live independently (home health care, personal care, day programs) more availablein the community?

41%47%

5% 4%

Extremely important priority Very important priority

Not important priority Somewhat important priority

74%

All voters

24%

Caregiver Households

78%

20%


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Helping people live independently is a powerful poten-tial issue for candidates, especially among women,low-income voters, and caregivers.

18%

29

How important is this issue in helping you make your voting decisions this year?

Very/fairlyimportant

Less/notimportant

Very

important

64%

78%

Helping older people and the disabled live independently

Very Important Issue in m y Vote Decisions

MenWomen


High school/less

Some collegeCollege grads

Income under $30KIncome $30K to $50KIncome over $50K

56%72%

59%70%

80%

68%51%

76%88%

52%

WhitesNon-whites

Undecided voters

Caregiver householdsLikely future caregivers

63%75%

71%

66%71%


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There is near universal support to shift PA lotteryfunds from nursing home to home-based care.

8%

30

* Information before question:The PA Lotteryfunds programs such as property tax and rent

rebates, transportation, and in-home careservices to help both lower- and middle-income seniors stay in their homes as theyage. Recently, lawmakers have shifted thesefunds away from programs that help seniorsremain at home so that more can be spent onnursing home care.Support Oppose

Support

strongly

67%

78%

Which do you think would be a better use of Pennsylvania lottery revenuespaying

for nursing home care, or funding programs to help seniors remain in their homesas they age?*

MenWomen


Undecided voters

60%73%

61%74%

71%

64%

Strongly suppo rt home care

fund ing


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Key Findings from a Survey among Likely Voters age 50/over

Conducted June 2014

for

Pennsylvania Voters Age50+ and the 2014 Election

pa voters age 50+ and the 2014 election

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