Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
A <br /> In North Carolina the poverty rate for 65-plus persons was 24 <br /> percent, compared to 15 percent for all age groups in 1979. The <br /> problem is particularly acute for women and minorities. Almost half of <br /> 65-plus women live alone. Their median income in 1981 for 65-plus <br /> women was $4,7571, or about 58 percent of the mens income. Thus the <br /> median income for older women in 1981 was at approximately the poverty <br /> level, of 1983. When the near poor are added, the proportion of older <br /> women with meage!r incomes increases even more dramatically. Minority <br /> elderly also facie particular problems since their lifelong incomes tend <br /> to be lowe givinIc them fewer resources to fall back on as they grow <br /> older. <br /> The cost of' bringing all older people up to the current poverty <br /> level is not unreasonable. More effective use of SST to supplement <br /> inadequate Social Security payments, efforts to include all eligible <br /> people in the Food Stamp program and in other programs for the very <br /> poor would reduce the numbers below the poverty level. A major thrust <br /> must be to improve the financial eligibility criteria so that maximum <br /> use can be made Of already available resources. <br /> If a decisibn were made to raise all, older people out of <br /> destitution, a timetable could be set with the floor at. say BO percent <br /> of the poverty level in 1985. 90 percent in 1987. and 100 percent in <br /> 1989. The time to act is Dow when the economy is in an upturn. <br /> BCOMEURAII013-EQR-EBUNIUN-2E-UEALIKANALEB3 <br /> ANOUGALDERADULIS <br /> 82g2mmendalatmaZ: Promote through the public and private sectors the <br /> development of life—long healthy life styles as <br /> major preventive methods, including exercise. <br /> community involvement, proper nutrition, stress <br /> management. weight control, and the elimination of <br /> substance abuse and unnecessary use of medication. <br /> EscgmmendaIign_lp: Focus more attention on the medication regimes of <br /> older people, including the differing effects of <br /> medication mith respect to age and methods for cost <br /> containment. Emphasize the-roles of individuals, <br /> families. pharmacists, physicians, and other health <br /> care providers. <br /> Bmgmindgligo_1211 Address the immediate and long—range problem of <br /> inadequate income among older citizens. Current <br /> programs and regulations should be studied and <br /> modified to assure the ability of older persons to <br /> meet basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, <br /> health care, and transportation. <br /> 15 <br />