pa voters age 50+ and the 2014 election
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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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
Profile of Likely Voters Age 50/over
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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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
ECONOMIC SECURITY
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Voters 50+ see the economy as more good than badoverall, especially the college educated and politicalindependents.
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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
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27% 23%
10% 10%
Strongly satisfied Somewhat satisfiedStrongly dissatisfied Somewhat dissatisfied
A fourth of 50+ voters, and particularly women, aredissatisfied with their financial situation.
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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%
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30%
4%
A large majority say that their income is falling behindthe cost of living.
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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
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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
Income under $40KIncome over $40K
DemocratsOtherRepublicans
More Worr ied and Concerned
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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
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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
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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
Income under $40KIncome over $40K
DemocratsOtherRepublicans
Caregivers/past caregiversNon-caregivers
Key Subgro ups o f Non-ret i rees
Mean scores
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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
Income under $40KIncome over $40K
Dissatisfied
(non-retirees)
34%39%
51%33%
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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.
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Job Approval of President Obama
Approve
Disapprove
All voters
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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
Age 50 to 64Age 65 to 74Age 75/over
WhitesNon-whites
DemocratsOtherRepublicans
Tom
Corbett
38%
29%
31%29%
31%41%31%
36%12%
9%31%60%
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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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.
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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
Age 50 to 64Age 65 to 74Age 75/over
DemocratsOtherRepublicans
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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
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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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
CAREGIVING
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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
Caregiver Households*
27
All non-retirees
MenWomen
UnmarriedMarried
Age 50 to 59Age 60/over
Non-college gradsCollege grads
Income under $40KIncome over $40K
Non-retirees
54%
52%57%
53%55%
52%59%
53%56%
49%54%
All retirees
MenWomen
UnmarriedMarried
Age 50 to 69Age 70/over
Non-college gradsCollege grads
Income under $40KIncome over $40K
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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
Age 50 to 64Age 65/over
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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Attitudes among Likely Pennsylvania Voters Age 50+June/July 2014Hart/North Star Opinion Research for AARP
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
Age 50 to 64Age 65 to 74Age 75/over
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