Older Women Living Alone at Greatest Economic Risk

New Report: Late-life Gender Disparities in Economic Security

According to a new Elder Index report, half of all older women living alone across the nation, compared to 42 percent of older men living alone, have annual incomes below the Elder Index, which is a county-by-county measure of the cost of living for older adults. This level of economic insecurity means not having enough income to afford the local cost of housing, food, transportation, health care and other essentials without assistance.

The report, “Late-life Gender Disparities in Economic Security,” is written by UMass Boston Gerontology Institute Director Jan Mutchler, who produces the Elder Index, with Nidya Velasco Roldan and Yan-Jhu Su. Read the BU Gerontology Institute blog about the report. Link to the report.

Scroll to Top